How Electric Skateboards Work

How Electric Skateboards Work

Quick question, electric skateboards vs. steep hill, Who wins?

Once in a while, riders will encounter steep and challenging terrain. In such cases, who wins? Is it possible your electric skateboard will handle the amount of gravity, or will you have to give in to all sorts of harsh terrains?

To help settle the whole issue, there are a couple of underlying factors that will affect an electric skateboard while on a hill climb. Depending on these factors, which will vary depending on the brand, riders can evaluate and decide a winner. Sounds fair, right?

Underlying factors

• Motor power

While on a steep hill, your electric skateboard motor power is directly competing with the gravitational force. In most cases, motor power goes hand in hand with the engine size. A two thousand watt motor is expected to output more power compared to a typical fifty-watt motor.

For this reason, the higher the motor power, the greater the abilities of your electric skateboard to handle the steep terrain

• Battery capacity

The battery capacity will have a huge role to play in all this. For your electric skateboard to handle a steep hill, it will require more energy and power from its batteries.

Therefore, unless you are ready to give in to a sharp terrain, you will need to get a high battery life. Most importantly, your electric board should be fully charged for the best possible results.

• Torque

According to ollie_physics, on a steep hill, your electric skateboard will have to pivot about the rear wheels for the skateboard to begin to rise. This means that the steeper the terrain, the more twisting force or Torque, you will need to win.

Torque is dependent on the rider’s weight, wheel size, gearbox, and, of course, the desired acceleration. The time factor is also an issue you may want to have in mind.

• Incline

The degree of Incline is arguably a significant factor that affects the whole hill-climbing process. Some hills may have a gradient close to 40 degrees, and it could be more!

Skateboards are rated depending on the degree of Incline they can handle. A skateboard rated 20-degree incline cannot whatsoever win to a 40-degree hill. Plainly, expect Mother Nature to take over. No amount of push can change that.

• Wheels

On to the wheels! The material and quality will have a say based on their ability to compete with gravity.

Generally, the wheel size will also affect the hill climbing ability of your electric skateboard. You will need them big enough to ensure they can roll faster and retain as much speed as possible, especially on a steep hill.

Learn more on skateboard wheels from Tactics.com.

• Rider weight

Lastly, your weight will have everything to do with the electric skateboard’s ability to crawl up that hill. The heavier you are, due to gravity, the more force extended on the board and hence more friction.

This translates to a greater gravitational pull which your electric board must hustle to overcome while moving up to the top of a hill. As a rider, you must always be working to reduce gravity. Otherwise, we all know who the real master is. Right?

How do you skate down a hill?

Now, unlike moving up a hill, skating down a hill does not require as much force or energy. In fact, the amount of speed while sliding down a hill can be very risky and is among the thousand ways to die. Believe it or not.

It is more dangerous, but luckily, with the help of your brakes and a few guidelines explained below, it can all be contained. Unlike moving up, this time, your board is working in unison with gravity.

It is, therefore, paramount to consider the following guidelines to ensure your safety at all times.

• Make use of the brakes

Electric skateboards come with a pair of brakes built to help you go down a steep hill specifically. You might as well use them.

• Do not, actually, never accelerate

With little to no gravity, it is evident; your skateboard has nothing or no one to stop it. It is, therefore, likely to go done at really high speed that again could be very dangerous and scary for you.

With all the pressure, why then must you accelerate?

• You can always choose to walk down

In case skating down the sharp hill still terrifies you, it will always be safer to choose to walk down instead. Better to be safe than sorry. You just never know.

Best types of characteristics for climbing up steep hills

• At least 30% incline rate – Ensures your electric skateboard has the required capability and ability to handle a variety of terrains.

• Not less than 2000 watts – Your skateboard will require all the power it can get to climb up steep hills. The larger the motor power, the better for you.

• At least 10S5P of battery style – the battery life should also be very intentional. Again, for your electric skateboard to win, you will need a high battery life.

Final thoughts. Who wins?

To conclude, it is evident that the electric skateboard can really perform when tasked with a high degree inclined hill. With just the right features or characteristics, your electric skateboard can win this great war.

However, vice versa cannot be dismissed entirely. There may be some scenarios where mother nature will always come out stronger and wiser than the rest of us. I know we can all relate.

It may, therefore, not be possible to conclude on one of the two. Either way, there are a lot of factors involved that could either improve or reduce the chances.

All in all, as a rider, I think it will be imperative to consider all the factors necessary at all times. In addition, make sure you adhere to all the set rules and guidelines set, especially when it comes to skating down a hill.

Personally, that will be the only way your electric skateboard can win. Don’t you think so?