Readers like you keep news free for everyone.
More than 5,000 readers have already pitched in to keep free access to The Journal.
For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can help keep paywalls away.
# zoom
Someone set a world record for the fastest-ever electric skateboard run
Yes, that’s a thing now.
DOWNHILL LONGBOARDING CAN see riders reach speeds of up to 130 kmh but we could reach a point where the same thing can be done on flat ground.
Mischo Erban broke the record for the fastest speed travelled on an electric skateboard, reaching a speed of 95.83 kmh over a distance of 100 metres.
He adds it to his other record-breaking attempt for the fastest skateboard speed downhill while standing back in 2012. In that attempt, he managed to reach a top speeds of 129.94 kmh.
He carried out the attempt at an aeroplane runway in Slovenia, using a handheld remote to control the skateboard’s speed.
The attempt was far from safe, however. He does end up tumbling and sliding across the tarmac during the attempt, but he had already secured the record at that point.
Mischo used a NEXTBoard created by a startup in Slovenia called Next Generation Vehicles (NGV).
It’s a customised board powered by four motors – one for each wheel – and two batteries. It takes an hour and a half to charge and has an approximate range of 10 to 15 kilometres.
Tying in with the attempt is NGV plans to develop a new racing competition using electric longboards. The idea is to recreate the speed of downhill races anywhere where there is enough flat ground to race on.
Read: Virtual-reality house viewings could become the new normal in Ireland >
Read: Turns out real dogs don’t really like Google’s robotic dogs >
