Inboard M1: A really expensive e-skateboard that will make any cyclist look old
26.7.2017
Translation: machine translated
Have you ever toyed with the idea of buying an e-skateboard? I have. And luckily I've now had the opportunity to try out the Inboard M1 electric longboard for a longer period of time.
"Would you like to test an e-skateboard?" asks Theresa Schieder, Marketing Manager Sport. I had previously suggested the Lou Board to her as an addition to our range, which is probably why she approached me. "I definitely want it," I reply and about a week later a huge parcel arrives at my desk. Contents: the Inboard M1, funded via Kickstarter.
The box was quickly opened and attracted a lot of attention in the office. But the first thing I noticed was the enormous weight. As soon as I unpacked it, I thought to myself: "No, I don't want to have to carry this thing under my arm for long periods of time" - for example, when doing the daily shopping. At 6.5 kg, it's definitely no lightweight! A practical city runabout looks different. But according to the manufacturer, it has a top speed of 35 km/h and a maximum range of 11 to 16 km. We'll see...
Before we set off
The Inboard M1 has a replaceable battery that can be accessed via an opening on the upper side of the deck. This means that the range can be extended as required with replacement batteries. The board is also approved for air travel precisely because of the batteries.
In addition to the skateboard, as with most e-skateboards, a remote control is also supplied. It works intuitively and simply. A long press on a button on the side of the remote control switches the board on automatically. The red and white lights on the board start to light up. Now all you have to do is stand on the board and carefully accelerate with the remote control.
This also allows you to overtake cyclists
First things first: this thing is fast and great fun. Anyone who has ever stood on a skateboard or is reasonably good at it will soon be able to go full throttle. When I was 12 to 16, I used to stand on a skateboard almost every day and practise tricks. Today, my home-made board transports me from A to B reliably and cheaply. So I'm not completely inexperienced in skateboarding. And beware: in theory, you are not allowed to ride on public roads. If you get caught, you risk a fine.
Full throttle in our case means up to 35 km/h. For comparison: a motorbike in Switzerland is allowed to travel at a maximum of 30 km/h. So dress warmly, dear motorbike enthusiasts! However, if you are travelling at top speed, you don't have to worry about falling off the board and getting into dangerous situations. The board remains very stable in any case and I felt stable at all times.
This short video shows that the board doesn't shy away from a decent incline either.
The gradient on this slope was 11%. For cyclists, this means that they have to pedal hard. Surprisingly, this was no problem at all for the board. There was a lady in front of me on an electric bike(!) and I passed her as if there was no hill at all. She was probably just as perplexed as I was.
After 8.8 km it was over
The range specified by the manufacturer should of course also be tested. Inboard states that you can travel 11 to 16 km on the board with a weight of around 75 kg and a flat route. I weigh just under 80kg and my route was pretty flat. Nevertheless, I only managed 8.8 kilometres. Probably also because I didn't use my battery very sparingly and just kept going at full throttle. Although I didn't reach my target of 11 kilometres, I was happy when I finished after around 19 minutes. My feet really started to hurt after a few kilometres. At this point, I would also like to thank Nick, who followed me in his car and took me home again.
But the longer I stood on the board, the more fun I had. At some point, I felt like I was standing on a snowboard and travelling down a seemingly endless slope. Thanks to the constant propulsion of the motors, I was able to make big turns that really felt very snowboard-like.
I was impressed.
I'm impressed: top speed 34 km/h with your average speed of 28 km/h. Nice.
Prohibited on public property in Switzerland
Unfortunately, it is illegal to ride skateboards like the Inboard M1 on public roads in Switzerland. Heavy fines can be imposed. On the other hand, e-bikes and some e-scooters or Segways are permitted
Using a motorised trend vehicle without a type approval on public roads (in accordance with legislation) can result in criminal prosecution. (TCS)
The TCS website tries to bring some light into the jungle of bans and the St. Gallen CVP National Councillor Jakob Büchler would like to find a political solution in autumn.
Let's hope for success. It really can't be right that these things are banned and so many other devices with practically identical features are allowed.
Buy or not to buy?
The Inboard M1 is definitely a lot of fun and you're sure to get plenty of incredulous looks from passers-by, cyclists and motorists. At 1700 francs, the board is definitely not a bargain. And when you consider that, in theory, you can't ride it on public roads, it doesn't make the decision any easier. The common comparison with a football pitch shows that a football pitch is around 26,000 times bigger than the Inboard M1 with dimensions of approx. 95x29 cm. A normal skateboard has dimensions of approx. 80x21 cm and fits into a football pitch around 42,000 times. So if you're not put off by the decent dimensions and weight and have always thought about buying an electric skateboard, you can definitely go for it.
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Manuel Wenk
Communications Manager
Manuel.Wenk@digitecgalaxus.chAs a Multimedia Producer, preparing multimedia content and knowing about cutting-edge technology is my business. My main focus at digitec is producing videos. I can’t wait to try out new products such as cameras, drones or smartphones as soon as they’re launched. This is where being at the source comes in rather handy. When I’m not working, I’m probably skiing, biking or hiking – the mountains are my place to be.
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