Onewheel, the electric skateboard that defies the laws of physics
Onewheel
If you are looking for a new urban or leisure mobility solution, the Californian company Future Motion may have something of interest for you. In fact, the company has recently presented two new models of Onewheel gyroscopic electric skateboards: just like a Segway, the new Onewheel skateboards equipped with a single central wheel are able to accelerate and brake based on the weight imposed by the user.No physical laws have been broken to make this product, however, seeing someone live or on video using a Onewheel is a jaw-dropping spectacle; from today, thanks to the updates made by Future Motion, the Onewheels are even more powerful and performing.
The new Onewheel GT is the top of the range model, and has just received a 50% increase in the torque delivered by the electric motor compared to the previous model; this result was obtained thanks to an increase in voltage, which allows to improve performance at all speeds. The power of the Onewheel GT is 2250W, which is about 3 horsepower. Thanks to the substantial battery installed, it will be possible to travel 50 km on a single charge. In terms of design, the new GT offers new concave footrests that improve the driving feeling, a new reinforced handle to simplify transport, and new lights much brighter than the previous ones to make night journeys safer. For the more adventurous, there is also a knobby tire as an option, to take your Onewheel GT off-road. The price is one of those that make your head spin a bit: a whopping $ 2,200.
If you are looking for a slightly cheaper solution, you can focus on the Onewheel Pint X: it is the smaller and less powerful version proposed by Future Motion, and is able to travel 30km with a charge only, at a maximum speed of 30 km / h. If you prefer the convenience of transport and the small size, the Pint X could be a more functional solution than the GT model; the price, set at $ 1400, is also considerably more affordable than that of the top-of-the-range model.
The new Onewheel GT can travel 32 miles on a single charge
© Images: Future MotionCalifornia startup Future Motion has revealed two new versions of its funky self-balancing electric rideable it calls Onewheel, with more range, power, and better ergonomics.
The most capable of the two is the new $2,200 Onewheel GT, which Future Motion says was “completely redesigned from the ground up.” It employs a higher-voltage control system that pushes more power to the motor — Future Motion says the GT is the “first 3 horsepower Onewheel.” The GT is pulling that power from a battery pack made up of 21700 lithium-ion batteries (the same size cell that powers many of Tesla’s current vehicles), which give it a whopping 32 miles of range on a full charge.
Performance aside, Future Motion says the Onewheel GT now has concave footpads for better board feel, brighter headlights, a sturdier carrying handle, and an optional treaded tire for people who want to take their Onewheel off-road.
The other new vehicle announced Wednesday is an update to the smaller Onewheel that Future Motion announced in 2019, the Pint. The new $1,400 Pint X gets more than twice the original Pint’s range (18 miles compared to six to eight miles previously) and a slight boost to top speed (18 miles per hour compared to 16mph previously). It also gets some small fit and finish upgrades, adjustable riding modes via the companion smartphone app, and will even be available in a neon colorway.
Electric bikes, scooters, and skateboards have become increasingly popular over the last decade, and the pandemic has only increased the focus on alternative modes of transportation. Onewheel has been able to survive by carving out an extremely specific niche and making really good products, even while companies like Boosted or Inboard (which ostensibly sold more “approachable” electric skateboards) went out of business. That focus appears evident in the new models, which are significant refinements — but still not reinventions — of the Onewheel we first met seven years ago.
