Urban Transport

Four-wheel drive electric BajaBoard dares you to ride

Four-wheel drive electric BajaBoard dares you to ride
The BajaBoard is built to handle roads, dirt, grass, mountain trails or sandy beaches
The BajaBoard is built to handle roads, dirt, grass, mountain trails or sandy beaches
View 24 Images
The BajaBoard is built to handle roads, dirt, grass, mountain trails or sandy beaches
1/24
The BajaBoard is built to handle roads, dirt, grass, mountain trails or sandy beaches
The BajaBoard boasts 12 kW (16 hp) of 4WD electric grunt
2/24
The BajaBoard boasts 12 kW (16 hp) of 4WD electric grunt
There's a 3 kW brushless electric motor at each wheel
3/24
There's a 3 kW brushless electric motor at each wheel
The BajaBoard has LED lighting front and back
4/24
The BajaBoard has LED lighting front and back
The BajaBoard has independent double wishbone suspension design with four mountain-bike-like shock absorbers and pneumatic all-terrain tires for top-notch stability, handling and traction
5/24
The BajaBoard has independent double wishbone suspension design with four mountain-bike-like shock absorbers and pneumatic all-terrain tires for top-notch stability, handling and traction
A custom master control unit with backlit LCD display to the front allows for adjustment of electric grunt to match riding style and capabilities
6/24
A custom master control unit with backlit LCD display to the front allows for adjustment of electric grunt to match riding style and capabilities
A removable Lithium battery pack promises a range of at least 24 km, though the developers are aiming for at least 30 km by the time it rolls into production
7/24
A removable Lithium battery pack promises a range of at least 24 km, though the developers are aiming for at least 30 km by the time it rolls into production
The BajaBoard has LED lighting front and back
8/24
The BajaBoard has LED lighting front and back
Onboard lights mean that riders don't have to stop the fun when the sun goes down
9/24
Onboard lights mean that riders don't have to stop the fun when the sun goes down
The BajaBoard has independent double wishbone suspension design with four mountain-bike-like shock absorbers and pneumatic all-terrain tires for top-notch stability, handling and traction
10/24
The BajaBoard has independent double wishbone suspension design with four mountain-bike-like shock absorbers and pneumatic all-terrain tires for top-notch stability, handling and traction
The BajaBoard design team set out to find a way to squeeze speed, stability, agility, versatility, toughness and compactness into one skateboard
11/24
The BajaBoard design team set out to find a way to squeeze speed, stability, agility, versatility, toughness and compactness into one skateboard
In tests, the latest model towed loads in excess of 100 kg (220 lb) uphill without so much as a cough
12/24
In tests, the latest model towed loads in excess of 100 kg (220 lb) uphill without so much as a cough
The BajaBoard has gone through four major design changes and two working prototypes to get to pre-production status
13/24
The BajaBoard has gone through four major design changes and two working prototypes to get to pre-production status
The BajaBoard Gen2 prototype can get a rider from a standstill up to 30 km/h (18 mph) in less than a second
14/24
The BajaBoard Gen2 prototype can get a rider from a standstill up to 30 km/h (18 mph) in less than a second
The BajaBoard development phases
15/24
The BajaBoard development phases
Throttle and braking will be undertaken using a handheld wireless trigger controller
16/24
Throttle and braking will be undertaken using a handheld wireless trigger controller
The BajaBoard took the Best Alternative Electric vehicle award at the EV Expo in Melbourne
17/24
The BajaBoard took the Best Alternative Electric vehicle award at the EV Expo in Melbourne
The BajaBoard at Melbourne's EV Expo in February 2014
18/24
The BajaBoard at Melbourne's EV Expo in February 2014
The electric motors are also reported capable of handling any hill that an average road car can climb
19/24
The electric motors are also reported capable of handling any hill that an average road car can climb
Setting up the electric differential
20/24
Setting up the electric differential
The BajaBoard has a top speed of 50 km/h (31 mph), and the range between charges is 24 km (15 miles) at present, but the team is aiming for at least 30 km by the time it rolls into production
21/24
The BajaBoard has a top speed of 50 km/h (31 mph), and the range between charges is 24 km (15 miles) at present, but the team is aiming for at least 30 km by the time it rolls into production
Readying the BajaBoard prototype for the fliming of the Kickstarter pitch video
22/24
Readying the BajaBoard prototype for the fliming of the Kickstarter pitch video
Each BajaBoard sports four mountain-bike-like shock absorbers
23/24
Each BajaBoard sports four mountain-bike-like shock absorbers
The BajaBoard founders
24/24
The BajaBoard founders
View gallery - 24 images

Though the only range problems a leg-powered skateboard suffers are to do with the fitness of its rider, electric skateboards do offer the thrill of being able to take on a Corvette without the aid of bionic limbs, zip over dirt, grass or road without running out of puff, or even just get the adrenalin pumping on the way to work. For the last 3 years, an Australian design team has been working on a multi-purpose powered board called the BajaBoard, which boasts 12 kW (16 hp) of 4WD electric grunt, adjustable independent suspension and LED lighting at the front and back. The project has now headed to Kickstarter for the final push toward production.

Creating the BajaBoard monster mountainboard started as a hobby project back in 2011, looking for a way to squeeze speed, stability, agility, versatility, toughness and compactness into one skateboard. Four major design changes and two prototypes later and the designers reckon that it's ready for public consumption.

The BajaBoard development phases
The BajaBoard development phases

Though final production specs may vary, the BajaBoard is currently shaping up with independent double wishbone suspension design with four mountain-bike-like shock absorbers and pneumatic all-terrain tires for top-notch stability, handling and traction. There's a 3 kW brushless electric motor at each wheel, adjustable independent front and rear steering, a removable Lithium battery and charger, and regen braking. It has a top speed of 50 km/h (31 mph), and the range between charges is 24 km (15 miles) at present, but the team is aiming for at least 30 km by the time it rolls into production.

The developers say that its Gen2 prototype (on which production specs are loosely based) could get a rider from a standstill up to 30 km/h (18 mph) in less than a second, though weight and skill would determine user results. The electric motors are also reported capable of handling any hill that an average road car can climb. In tests, the latest model towed loads in excess of 100 kg (220 lb) uphill without so much as a cough.

The BajaBoard has a top speed of 50 km/h (31 mph), and the range between charges is 24 km (15 miles) at present, but the team is aiming for at least 30 km by the time it rolls into production
The BajaBoard has a top speed of 50 km/h (31 mph), and the range between charges is 24 km (15 miles) at present, but the team is aiming for at least 30 km by the time it rolls into production

The BajaBoard, which grabbed the rosette for Best Alternative Electric Vehicle at Melbourne's EV Expo in February, has been designed for the kinds of jumps and drops that are usually the domain of snowboarders or mountain-bikers, and is equally at home on dirt, gravel, rocky mountain trails or tarmac. It's compact enough to fit in the trunk of a car, and the designers are aiming for a target production weight of less than 18 kg (40 lb).

Throttle and braking will be undertaken using a handheld wireless trigger controller, a custom master control unit with backlit LCD display to the front allows for adjustment of electric power to match riding style and capabilities, and riders will be able to drive the BajaBoard's front and rear wheels separately.

To get the imposing BajaBoard under the feet of adventurous riders, the team's George Li told us that the small startup "decided to run Kickstarter first so that we can maintain control over our directions, and so that our followers can have the opportunity to get a board without dealer mark-ups."

Skipping right past the supporter levels and into the pledges that will get you a BajaBoard if the Kickstarter campaign proves successful, there are 30 early bird base models up for grabs at AU$3,850 (US$3,600) each. These boards will come with a single throttle hand controller only, there'll be no LCD display and an absence of lights. But backers at this level will get the ride before anyone else, with an estimated shape date of December this year being given.

The BajaBoard design team set out to find a way to squeeze speed, stability, agility, versatility, toughness and compactness into one skateboard
The BajaBoard design team set out to find a way to squeeze speed, stability, agility, versatility, toughness and compactness into one skateboard

For just AU$150 more, backers can put their names against the early bird production model offering, with a dual throttle hand controller, LCD display on the master control unit and lighting front and rear. This one shows a shipping estimate of March 2015.

If you want to snag a production model plus the chance to spend 3 days with the development team, and choose custom colors and rims, you'll need to stump up at least AU$6,000 for an estimated April delivery.

Backers at all pledge levels are advised to check local regulations relating to electric vehicles before jumping in with a pledge. The BajaBoard founders have also announced that they'll host and run a special forum of peers to allow users to chat, swap tales of terror, get tips and tricks, and check for operating or maintenance info.

"If we don't make funding target, we'll seek out investors in order to complete the final design and set up facilities," Li added. "Then we would either launch another crowdfunding campaign or, more likely, simply sell through distributors and dealers."

The thrill ride of a pitch video is below.

Sources: BajaBoard, Kickstarter

View gallery - 24 images
3 comments
3 comments
The Skud
Yet another way for Darwin to get points! Sounds way too powerful for its own good.
Tuppe
@The Skud C'mon, if you're goal is just to survive, you might as well lock yourself up in a underground bunker. There's never too much power in a motor vehicle, only poor drivers. So what if you get injured or killed(as long as the rider is smart enough to not to kill anyone else)? Spoiler: You're going to die anyway, inevitably.
This looks very nice product. But for that price it's kinda off-limits for most people in their young lives. I mean my car costs that much.
Simon Pilkington
Live a little ;)