There's not one electric skateboard that is perfect for every single rider, which is why we have designed a range of motorised skateboards to suit all riding styles. When choosing an e-skate there are many aspects to consider. Where you'll ride, for how long and how much you intend to use it.
When we first designed two motorised skateboards options in 2010, the industry was very young. Fast forward to now, and you can find every flavour of the electric board you desire. From the commuter to the off-road enthusiast and the weekend warrior, we've made it our mission to create the best electric skateboards so every rider can find their dream board, perfect for their needs.
We've seen the sport grow from a simple evolution of riding a longboard skateboard to a bona fide alternative form of transport that is also often just used as a new hobby. Even if you've never been on a regular skateboard, an electric skateboard is incredibly easy to learn and is set to be a hot personal mobility device that will only increase in popularity in Europe and across the globe.
WHAT IS AN ELECTRIC SKATEBOARD?
Electric skateboards use a motor to push their rider along. They pack way more power than a standard board does. Evolve makes electric skateboards that go up to 50km/h. They use rechargeable batteries to give riders a range between 15km and 65km, depending on the model. Riders keep a remote control in their hand which manages acceleration and braking.
Electric skateboards are growing in popularity. They're fun, intuitive, convenient, and eco-friendly. You also don't need much training to ride one, so they're great for beginners.
HOW DOES AN ELECTRIC SKATEBOARD WORK?
There are five main parts to an electric skateboard - motor, remote, battery, deck, and wheels.
The deck is the bit you stand on. Evolve decks are made of carbon fibre or a combination of bamboo and fibreglass. Both of these are premium materials for board-making. The battery goes underneath the deck, and that’s what keeps the motor going. The motor sits between the rear wheels and pushes the board along. The remote is the bit you hold onto, which speeds you up or slows you down. With the remote, you can control speed, braking, acceleration and other settings.
Electric skateboards are more environmentally friendly than a car or a motorbike, thanks to their rechargeable battery. They’re a breeze to recharge, as its just a matter of plugging them into a charger wherever you can find an outlet. On a full charge, you can expect to go about 15km (on the Stoke), up to a max of 65km (on the Hadean).
All Evolve boards have four modes to ride in. There’s Safe, Eco, Fast, and Customised. Safe features slow acceleration, so that you can get used to takeoffs. This is where you should begin, just to get a feel for things. Eco limits your board to 75% of its top speed, which is gentlest on the batteries. Fast mode lets you test the upper limit of your board's power, and you’ll need this one if you’re trying to get up a hill. The customised mode does what it says on the label - it lets you sort out your own acceleration and braking points.
HOW TO RIDE AN ELECTRIC SKATEBOARD?
Understanding how an electric skateboard works and feels under your feet forms a basis for everything you will be doing. Learn how the board and remote respond so you can use the ideal amount of acceleration or braking, without being jerky on the triggers. When it comes to speed, our general rule is not to ride any faster than you can run.
There isn't a stance that is perfect for all riding styles and situations. A good starting point is to make sure your legs are wide apart, and your knees slightly bent. You need to get familiar with your weight distribution. Shifting forward and backward compensates for acceleration and braking, and of course, side to side is how you turn. A couple of drills you can do in an open and quiet area is to stop and start in a straight line until you are comfortable taking off and stopping at all speeds.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO LEARN TO RIDE AN ELECTRIC SKATEBOARD?
Short answer? Not very. Riding a regular board is a lot harder because you’ve got kick-push, which tends to be tricky for people who are more used to using their legs for just…walking. An electric skateboard pushes itself, so all you need to do is find your balance. You can nail this down in as little as a few solid hours of practice.
HOW TO STAND ON AN ELECTRIC SKATEBOARD?
Stand on your board and see which one suits you best - right foot forward, or left foot forward. There’s no correct option here, some people just have a natural feel for one over the other. Left foot forward is called ‘regular’ because it’s more common, and right foot forward is called ‘goofy’. Don’t let the names get to you, just ride the board how you want to ride it.
HOW TO PLACE YOUR FEET ON AN ELECTRIC SKATEBOARD?
We’ve already gone over the difference between regular and goofy stance, so figure out which one of those you prefer and then we’ll talk about how best to position your feet.
If you prefer regular, keep your left foot to the front of the board with your toes hanging over the right-hand side (not the front!). Your back foot stays towards the middle of the board with your heel hanging over the left-hand edge (again, not the back!). That position is called ‘hanging ten’ or ‘heel side’.
If you prefer a goofy stance, swap these instructions - right foot forward with toes over the left side, left foot in the middle-rear with heel over the right side.
HOW TO STEER AN ELECTRIC SKATEBOARD?
Steering is pretty intuitive as well. It’s just a matter of leaning in the direction you want to go. Lean right to go right, lean left to go left. How sharp your turn is will depend on how hard you lean. Bigger lean, bigger turn.
The better you get at this, the more you can integrate some more difficult moves. See how shifting the weight of your feet changes your turns, see what happens when you crouch. Like we said, riding can be pretty intuitive, so as you get more comfortable you’ll discover ways to enhance your own performance.
HOW TO STOP AN ELECTRIC SKATEBOARD?
Stopping an electric skateboard is easy, because you’ve got a brake in your hand. Just squeeze the brake trigger when you want to slow down, and the board will handle the rest for you. If you’ve reached a low, comfortable speed, then you can put your foot on the ground to add some drag. Don’t be doing this at high speed, though. Remember, our boards move quick, so you want to take full advantage of the brake before you try anything else.
HOW FAST DOES AN ELECTRIC SKATEBOARD GO?
The overall gearing - wheels and gear setups affect the electric skateboards' top speed. A board with tall gearing will have a higher top speed and less torque, while a board with low gearing will have a lower top speed and more torque.
For example, the Evolve Hadean Carbon Street can reach up to 50 km/hr. Compact electric skateboards like the Stoke, with smaller motors, reach 36 km/hr.
HOW TO CLEAN A SKATEBOARD?
"When your electric skateboard looks dirty, you know it's been a good weekend."
Grip tape is notoriously difficult to clean, especially when you're trying to keep it away from water. Grip tape cleaner is essentially a rubber block that does a really good job at getting the dirt off. It's cheap and lasts a really long time. Win-win.
WHERE TO BUY AN ELECTRIC SKATEBOARD?
Online: at Evolve Skateboards' website, you can buy your skateboard online with fast shipping options available.
You can find Evolve's retailers in Europe. You can find their location on our Europe Stockists page.
