Skateboards have become quite popular among students and regular professionals over the past few years. However, what you may not know is that there are plenty of DIY skateboard projects that you can complete today to improve your commutes—or to make use of old boards you have stored in your garage.
Below are 10 DIY electric skateboards you can make at home.
1. Fast Electric Skateboard
Most electric skateboards come with a speed limit, often determined by the manufacturer based on local safety specifications. Technically, you can exceed such limitations—as long as you know what you're doing. This may be okay if you live in an area with little or no traffic.
To complete this project, you'll need to make a few adjustments to your existing skateboard. The most critical replacements are the motor and wheels. Ideally, you want wheels that can handle a 5HP acceleration and a motor that can take an 800-Amp draw.
2. Customizable Electric Skateboard
If you've ever been in a situation where you feel like you need several different skateboards to use, this hack is for you. With a customizable electric skateboard, you don't have to own several units since you can switch up the components, giving it a fresh look every time.
As you may have expected, one of the most critical prerequisites for the project is an electric skateboard that is easy to take up apart and put back together. With a few hand tools and a little patience, you'll be able to transform how your skateboard looks and performs in no time.
3. Bluetooth Electric Skateboard
Controlling a skateboard using a smartphone sounds futuristic, and here’s a chance to do it. For this project, you’ll need a ¼ inch pitch chain, brushless outrunner motor, lithium battery charger, M4 washers, Raspberry Pi tooth sprocket, and nuts.
The pitch chain is durable and provides better stability when boarding from a stand-still. You can ride the skateboard up to 15 kilometers on a single charge, and enjoy a speed of up to 35km/h.
4. Vibration-Proof Electric Skateboard
A vibration-proof electric skateboard can be a helpful upgrade to your daily commutes, considering the minimal investment you’ll need to make. If you're a regular skateboard user, you know that their greatest downside is dealing with even roads or rock debris.
You can make your traditional skateboard vibration-proof with just a handful of materials and tools on a Saturday afternoon. This project requires you to use a PCB connected with a few circuits and a motion sensor. The principle behind the design is that the electric motor should detect uneven roads and adjust the speed of this axle accordingly.
5. Carbon Fiber Electric Skateboard
Carbon fiber is one of the strongest materials that can be used to improve the aesthetics, durability, and stability of a skateboard. Granted, you can find such a ready made skateboard on retail, but it’ll probably be quite expensive. However, you can complete this project with just a fraction of the total cost of buying a new one.
Remember, the carbon fiber must be appropriately installed on the board if you want to benefit maximally from the material and its structural properties. After installing the fiber, you'll realize that it does a tremendous job keeping the board leveled up at all speeds.
6. Electric Skateboard for Cats
It's possible to turn an old mechanical skateboard into an electrical one. The project is perfect for anyone with a cat that enjoys getting dragged around on doormats and other surfaces.
You'll have to obtain a motor, a remote-controlled circuit, and some polishing tools. Adding a remote control to the skateboard helps avoid knocking things over during movement.
LED lights can be interesting decorations to your skateboard. Check out these stunning LED light ideas.
7. DIY Arduino-Based Electric Skateboard
This Arduino-based electric skateboard proves you don’t have to spend a fortune to have a fun ride around your neighborhood. The resources required include one wood-deck longboard, longboard wheels, one Arduino Uno R3 microcontroller, 12-gauge stranded wire, jumper wires, resistors, and male header pins.
A single brushless DC motor powers the skateboard, and you can create your desired enclosure for an eye-catching look. Making this skateboard is easy, especially for people with basic knowledge about the Arduino microcontroller.
8. Self-Balancing Electric Skateboard
In case you’re wondering, this DIY isn’t for experts only. Fabrication is a straightforward process, so beginners will not encounter significant challenges. A razor scooter E100 chain back wheel fits nicely under the board and comes with axles and bearings to ease the process. You can get electric scooter motors from eBay or toy scooters.
There’s an emergency switch at hand, which cuts power to prevent the skateboard from flying across when you’re not on the board. This project is highly educative and will teach you a ton on electronics.
9. DIY Electric Skateboard Ran on a Power Drill
Almost everyone can hack the project since the setup is easy, requiring you to make a few modifications. All materials will cost you around $300 when starting from scratch and about $100 if you already have a drill and skateboard.
Once you’re done bolting a sizeable metal disk into the inward side of every front wheel, attach the disk to a drill using a right-angle drill attachment. This skateboard will turn heads in your neighborhood.
10. In-Wheel Motor Electric Skateboard
Show off your next-level DIY skills to your friends and family with this in-wheel motor electric skateboard. You’ll need one ESC per motor, a longboard deck, one In-wheel hub motor, a skate tool, soldering iron, solder, a 6S battery, v-head screws, a front track with wheels, tape, and a front truck with wheels.
Mark where you want to make holes using a marker pen, then drill into the board using a Dremel and attach the ESCs. This skateboard can accelerate to high speeds, so wear proactive gears to avoid injuring yourself and others.
If you want to try out other projects similar to this one, you can take a look at these exciting DIY electric projects suitable for beginners.
Learn by Doing it Yourself
There you have it: 10 easy electric skateboard projects you can try today. A customized skateboard can cost an arm and a leg due to the cool modifications. Instead of the hassle, why not make one yourself? Each project only requires a few tools, a handy guide, and the willingness to explore your creative side.