If you’re a skateboarder like myself, you know how awesome it feels to fly down a hill. But you know what stinks? Going up that hill. With no momentum or pedal of any sort, skateboarders have little choice but to awkwardly push themselves up or (ugh) walk.
In an attempt to remedy the propulsion problem and take boards with wheels to the next level, designers from Dublin-based Moby Bikes are creating the YX One – an electric skateboard that can traverse all terrains, especially those pesky uphill slopes.
The All-Terrain Wheel Skateboard
The YX One looks a little different than your average skateboard. In fact, it’s a bit of stretch to even compare it to one. For starters, it has three wheels: two 10-inch tires on the front and one 13-inch wheel at the rear. It’s closer to a Morgan 3 Wheeler in this regard.
Housed between the wheels is a rear-wheel motor that connects to a single control handle with brake and speed control switch. This 750w motor is powered by 48-volt, lithium-ion batteries which allow the skateboard to go up to 25 mph (40km/h) and up to 37 miles (60km) on a single charge.
The limits change depending on the rider’s weight and terrain traversed so expect to shred longer and further on even terrain and shorter when going up and around a mountainside.
Depending on what kind of ride you want, you can also set the YX One to one of three power modes. The first is for more precise turns and movement with the other two modes allowing for better balance at higher speeds.
The handle, while sticking out quite a bit, provides stability and adds a number of capabilities. Hitting a button on the edge of the handle, for instance, activates the disk brakes, something you’ll want when moving at 25 mph (40 km/h).
The handle also provides acceleration. A speed switch at the front of the handle allows you to change the aforementioned power modes, changing the way the YX One moves and how it handles.
Lastly, it provides control. Since you’ll be moving much faster than a normal skateboard, the handle allows you to exert a downward force onto the YX One. This lets you tilt the board in the direction you want to go much faster while still keeping your weight centered.
The History of the Wheel Board
Before it was commercialized, the YX One was the brainchild of one Israeli inventor, Eyal Aloni. Eager to share his love for snowboarding and windsurfing to us landlubbers, Eyal created what he called a “tilt board” – a much wider skateboard with a similar three-wheel feature and control handle of the YX One.
After years of prototyping and selling his boards locally, he decided to share his invention with the world. Thus, the YX One was born.
The YX One has already reached its funding goal on Indiegogo and is currently undergoing pre-production. If all goes well, the all-terrain wheel board will be available in July 2020. Price? The retail price was set at $2300 with earlybird discounts between $1108 and $1385. A bit higher than other all-terrain electric options, but a bit more power too.
Full specs and features can be found on both the YX One Indiegogo page and their official website.
