Electric skateboards pack all the fun and adventure of a motorless board into a sweet ride that won’t make you break a sweat. Choosing the right motorized skateboards means finding construction and performance that will match your use. Are you going for a short casual joy ride or joining the growing number of urban commuters who depend on electric skateboards for their morning commute?

Your plans will dictate your need for speed, functionality, weight and battery life. A longer commute calls for longer battery life. Some motorized skateboards can take on the roughest terrain, while others are more suited for pavement or stable ground. A yen for off-road adventure means you’ll be looking for sturdy construction and durability that can take a beating.

Serious fun—even extreme riding—comes along with motorized skateboards’ rapid acceleration, speeds well over 20 miles per hour and multiple riding modes. If style is a priority, you’ll be able to find skateboard decks with incredible design.

Motorized Skateboards Offer a Range of Features

The earliest versions of powered skateboards were fueled by gas engines, but today the industry relies on electric motors. The speed of the electric motor is controlled by a handheld remote. Most models have apps that let you program their operations, and some even let you use your smartphone as a remote. You control speed using either your trigger finger or thumb. Steering is a function of body or feet.

Choose two-wheel drive, and you will get better traction and power with a separate motor for each of the rear skateboard wheels. The downside is that two-wheel drive drains the battery quickly and makes turning more difficult. A hub drive makes less noise than a belt drive. You can ride at night with extras like LED lights and in all kinds of weather with waterproof or water-resistant.

Prices for motorized skateboards run from a few hundred dollars to thousands as you’ll see when you search reviews of electric motor skateboards.

On the lower end of the price range, buyers should beware of inferior wheels or brakes and lead-acid batteries instead of lithium-ion ones. Cheaper models may have motors that produce too little torque to climb even the smallest sidewalk incline.

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