Electric skateboards are motorised versions of the ever popular longboard and cruiser skateboards, with a wireless handheld control for adjusting speed. They typically come with road and/or all-terrain tyres and choice of either hub motors (within wheel) or external (outrunner) motors.

Electric skateboards use a battery to supply power to an electronic speed controller (ESC), which regulates power to the motors. The motors turn the wheels, while a (typically Bluetooth) controller is used by the rider to control speed and regenerative braking.

We have an article with everything to know about electric skateboards.

Any electric skateboard is allowed to be purchased in New Zealand and ridden on private property. As they contain powerful LI batteries most cannot be transported on commercial airline flights, and transportation on cargo flights or via sea requires safety data sheet documentation and packaging certification (making international freight of used boards with their batteries complicated).

We have found the NZ public generally very accepting of electric skateboards, with them being treated much like unpowered skateboards. In general they get ignored when carried through shopping centres, offices, public spaces and on public transportation (unlike most electric scooters or e-bikes which are often prohibited and must be left outside).

Current NZTA regulations date back to 2018 and only allow for PEV with motors up to 300 Watt to be used on public roads, which excludes all electric skateboards and most of the private electric scooters that are commonly seen in public. However, electric skateboards and other PEVs have been widely tolerated for use in public provided they are ridden responsibly without putting the rider or others at risk or causing annoyance. To date no rider in New Zealand has been fined nor had their board confiscated.

There are four ways the motors can be connected to the wheels:

• Hub motor which is positioned within the wheel and surrounded by a polyurethane sleeve which acts as the tyre. Hub motors are discrete, light, quiet, require little maintenance, and can have slightly better water resistance as there are few exposed components. But their diameter is limited with the wheel size so they tend to only be each capable of 500-800 Watt maximum, and have limited sleeve options for their tyres. They are often used for budget street boards where motor power is not a priority.
• Direct drive motors which are positioned inline with the wheel on the axle. This allows for a wider range of tyres to be used compared to a hub motor but the motor is sitting exposed very low to the ground, and is again limited by constraints on its size.
• Outrunner motor with belt drive, where an external motor is connected to the wheel via a toothed belt. This allows a larger motor to be used, the belt/wheel gear/tyre can be changed to allow different speed versus torque configurations. Belts do wear over time, can get debris caught or break so require periodic tension adjustments and replacement. Belt drives are very popular for all-terrain and 2-in-1 boards (which come with both all-terrain and street tyres).
• Outrunner motor with gear drive, where an external motor is connected to the wheel via a gear system. This also allows a larger motor to be used, being a closed system it is less exposed to debris, is very responsive when accelerating/braking and can offer high torque and top speeds. Modern gear drives are also quiet. Typically though they are heaver and more expensive than belt drives, don’t allow adjusting gear ratios and gear drive maintenance is a bit more complex (although less frequent than for a belt drive). Gear drives are popular on newer premium boards and also chosen by heavier riders who want high torque.

The top speed of an electric skateboard varies considerably between models. Some beginner boards are designed for relatively moderate speeds, while high-performance boards can travel substantially faster. Evolve Skateboards in particular focus more on the ride experience cruising, providing excellent carving, rather than stability for high speed specifications.

Manufacturer range figures are normally measured under controlled conditions, so real-world range are typically lower.

Small models such as the Evolve Stoke X and Meepo Mini 5 have maximum range 45 and 18 km respectively, and theoretical top speed of 40-45 km/h, although most riders achieve less range and generally go much slower.

Intermediate models Evolve Diablo Carbon and Meepo Voyager X have range around 50 km and max speed around 50-55 km/h.

Premium models Meepo Hurricane 1500 and Meepo Monster 2500 have enormous range up to 100-150 km and maximum speed 70-80 km/h.

Always ride at a speed appropriate for the conditions and within any applicable legal limits.

Some models of electric skateboards have IP (ingress protection) ratings for wet conditions but in general it is best to avoid getting the board wet. The battery, electronics and motors are all very low to the ground so it can be challenging for a manufacturer to adequately protect the components from water. Skateboard tyres, especially polyurethane (PU) street tyres, lose a lot of traction on wet surfaces and have longer braking distances. Water washes some of the grease away, so causing more bearing and belt wear, and salt water eventually causes corrosion issues.

Inevitably NZ riders will get caught in rain. In such cases it is best to slow down and avoid sharp turns, avoid deep puddles and standing water, avoid leaves and slippery painted or metal surfaces, and keep the remote dry (such as operate from within a pocket). Once out of the rain it is good to dry the board surfaces with a towel, leave to board tilted so water can drain before it finds a way through seals, and not charge the battery until all components are thoroughly dry. If water is suspected to have entered the electronics consider disconnecting the battery and leave the board to air dry with the compartment covers off.

The best electric skateboard depends on how the rider intends to use it. Consider your experience level and weight, range and speed requirements, types of terrain the board will be ridden on, and budget.

In general electric skateboards can be classified as follows depending on their use:

• Shortboards, which are typically smaller skateboards with street tyres and popular for shorter commutes and where the board might need to be carried. The most popular examples are the entry-level Meepo Mini 5 with hub motors, and the more powerful “pocket rocket” Evolve Stoke X.
• Street longboards, which are longer skateboards with street tyres and popular for cruising on pavement. The most popular examples are the entry-level Meepo V3 Series Max, the punchy Meepo Voyager X, or the carving-master Evolve GTR Bamboo converted to street wheels.
• All-terrain longboards, for a mixture of off-road and street riding, which are the most common mid-level boards found in NZ. The most popular examples are the entry-level Meepo Rover, the mid-tier Evolve Fusion and Evolve Diablo Carbon, or the premium long-range Meepo Hurricane 1500.
• Off-road or electric mountain boards, which can be used on pavement but come alive off road. Several boutique brands specialise in these boards but two popular models are the Evolve Renegade Diablo and the top-of-the-line Meepo Monster 2500.

There are many electric skateboard brands providing a wide range of choices and suitable for most budgets. Most of the smaller brands only have online sales and the rider is responsible for handling repairs, but the large brands are very well established with reputable products.

The largest electric skateboard brands (roughly in descending order of sales) were all set up by passionate skateboarding founders:

• Meepo was founded by Kieran Mao in 2017, and has grown to become one of the world’s leading brands with over 150,000 electric skateboards sold around the world. Meepo produces quality boards with high specifications at competitive prices, and is often considered the best-value electric skateboard brand.
• Evolve Skateboards was born in Australia, by Jeff Anning in 2008, through sheer passion and obsession for finding the link between snowboarding, surfing, and all things carving on land. After scouring the world for the best electric skateboard, Evolve was developed out of the need for aesthetically refined and quality electric skateboards that were focused on creating the ultimate endless wave experience. Evolve is the largest electric skateboard brand in NZ and Australia.
• Backfire Boards introduced the G1 electric skateboard in 2013 and diversified into entry-level and all-terrain hub motor boards, and their high end Lorentz Major mountain board.
• ONSRA is a Swiss company that designs a small range of hub and belt drive short boards and the VELAR belt or gear drive all-terrain board.
• WowGo Board was established in 2017 and mostly sells budget street boards.

There are also many smaller electric skateboard brands, notably the premium brands Lacroix Boards and Trampa, general brands Exway and Acedeck, and budget brands Tynee and Maxfind. Every rider has opinions about the brands so it can be challenging to get objective views on social media, but fortunately there are a number of popular non-sponsored reviews available online.

Atomic EV cannot realistically stock and provide parts for so many brands. We sell and provide servicing for Meepo and Evolve Skateboards, the largest two brands that together cover the spectrum of board models and provide plenty of choices for NZ riders. Although there are other very reputable brands, which we always welcome on our group events, in New Zealand riders of other brands will need to contact their overseas supplier to handle parts and any repairs.

When riding an electric skateboard at a minimum a helmet and wrist protection is essential at all times. Knee and elbow pads are also recommended, along with leading-shoulder protection if pushing higher speeds (left shoulder for regular riders, right shoulder for goofy riders). There is always a potential risk of the wheels hitting a bump or slipping in wet conditions. At higher speeds a full-face helmet and abrasion resistant armoured clothing is also recommended.

Electric skateboards are not very complex designs so many people can make DIY modifications or perform maintenance on their own boards. Particularly replacing tyres, inner tubes, bearings, belts, bushings or adjusting trucks or belt tensions are quite straight forward tasks that can be performed at home. More experienced people can also swap out components such as the ESC , battery pack (with care), motors and trucks.

Regularly wipe the deck and components, check the wheels and bearings for wear, and ensure the battery is at least partially charged after use. Ensure the axle, motor, truck and battery case bolts are correctly tightened and haven’t loosened with vibration.

Check belts have the correct tensions and inspect for signs of wear, such as missing teeth, fraying edges, or cracks.

Check the tyres for uneven wear, tread depth, debris. For pneumatic tyres also regularly check the tyre pressure and for any punctures.

Occasionally check the deck for delamination or cracks near the truck mounting points – best to catch structural issues early. Clean and lubricate the bearings, particularly if ridden in wet or dirty conditions.

Ideally store batteries longer term at between 40-50% of their capacity when not in use, promptly recharge if near 0% and ideally do not store at 100% long term. Store the skateboard in a cool and dry location to prolong its lifespan.

For those that don’t feel comfortable doing their own maintenance Atomic EV offers a range of board servicing options.

Atomic EV is the New Zealand importer and retailer for the largest electric skateboard brand, Meepo and the Auckland reseller and principal NZ service centre for Evolve Skateboards. We are keen riders and organise Evolve’s popular group rides and the race events for the community. We also have a range of boards for customers to try, and sometimes loan out to riders stuck without a board.

We maintain stock of the common consumable parts, such as replacement tyres and inner tubes for all the models we sell, so our customers can keep riding their boards without long waits for parts from overseas.

We match the international prices for our brands, so you will only be paying a fair price without any additional hidden fees. Being a New Zealand registered company ensures customers are protected under the Consumer Guarantees Act, and when you contact us you know you’ll be able to reach us quickly.

Atomic EV is also the authorised warranty and service centre for all our brands and holds stock of most OEM parts to ensure we get our customers back riding quickly. Our workshop handles all the Meepo servicing and most of the Evolve servicing across New Zealand, and we’ve resurrected many dead electric skateboards for their owners.