Creative + Tech | Marbel Electric Skateboard

Here at 52 Limited, we love the future. Creative minds in an unparalleled age of technological reach are designing the world of tomorrow. We spotlight some of these moments in our Creative + Tech column.

The Marbel Board

Tomorrow’s Electric Skateboard Today

While the electric skateboard is not new, no one’s made a skateboard quite like this before.

Look ma, no wires!

Marbel‘s electric skateboard is a sleek, well-designed longboard that syncs to the rider’s phone and drags along no wires or otherwise out-of-place gadgetry. At just nine pounds, and despite its self-contained electronics, the skateboard has a per-charge range of 10 miles, a top speed (uphill!) of 20mph and a 90 minute charge time in any standard outlet. Although other electric boards boast more distance or more speed, none look like this — a longboard you’d be happy to tuck under your arm on the bus.

The Tampa-based company is currently running a Kickstarter campaign to fund the final phase of development. The product’s design merits have made the punchy board a hot commodity. Already they’ve raised nearly $230,000, which is $120,000 more than their original goal. They’ve now set stretch goals to illuminate exactly what they’ll do with the extra funding they generate in this phase.

Does your skateboard have dashboard integration?

With a carbon fiber/kevlar deck that is 30mm at its thickest point and a battery akin to a Tesla Model S, the Marbel board would be right at home in the animated 3D displays of Back To The Future II **. The board has a dashboard app for iOS and Androidsmartphones that allow riders to control acceleration, top speeds and even battery life (you can eek out an extra mile of distance in ECO mode). Other features include a map with reachable-distance overlay, a locking mechanism and community-sourced media from riders.

No matter the ultimate fate of this particular electric skateboard, its sheer existence stands as a shining example of what’s possible when the lines between technology and creative are blurred. This is the future, and it’s only just beginning.

( ** Editor’s Note: We still want our hoverboards. )

52 Limited is a digital resource company connecting creative + technology talent with leading brands, marketing and engineering departments, start-ups, design firms, advertising and interactive agencies. If you’re looking for talent or work, visit us at 52ltd.com