2KW sounds a hell of a lot, when a 250W motor on a bike can get up to 20mph? Do you actually use the full 2KW of power? it seems like it would throw the rider to me.
I'm willing to bet from ebike knowledge that the regenerative braking is more of a marketing feature, and may not even break even with the added weight. Have you done tests on this?
Others have touched upon price so i'll ask if you had any concerns about liabilities? and are you hoping to grow organically post-kickstarter, or a funding round?
The key is to have enough power for hills, but make it controlled enough that you don't throw the rider. From the rider's perspective, the board has so much power it's like the hill isn't even there, but it's still gentle on acceleration and braking.
Regen braking doesn't add any weight for us.
Liability is an issue for sure, and we're handling it just like any other vehicle or consumer product.
Are the boards waterproof? I would love to have one but I live in an area that gets a lot of rain, and I'd be terrified of getting caught in a storm and ruining my $1200 board. On the flip side, if it does handle water okay, then I imagine boarding in the rain could be a lot of fun :)
Water resistant, but I wouldn't advise using them in a downpour. The biggest concern is a lack of traction with slick longboard wheels more than damage to the electronics.
1. We're starting with a great longboard - one that would cost over $300 if you bought it alone.
2. We're using advanced and expensive motor and battery technology. The kind seen in electric motorcycles and cars, but never in bikes or scooters.
The reason the price is so high is because we built the first ones for ourselves, not for customers, and we only used the best ingredients. We have no intention of compromising that, even if it means less volume, because the end result is worth it.
(Ignore the horrible website) What are your thoughts on this? http://www.metro-board.com/ How does your board compare to the metro board? What makes it special?
for what my word is worth, please let me put in a vote for LiFe - i know they're not as energy dense but you may not need as much armoring on the pack. you can say its good for 2ce as many charges and uses a safer battery - which can increase perceived value.
let the ultra-modders swap in LiCo's on their own - they'll do it anyways.
there's a techcrunch-story-future that i'd really like to see you avoid! :(
It looks like the board uses some kind of modified orangatang wheels, and possibly other custom parts. Long board parts need to be replaced occasionally due to natural wear-and-tear. Will the replacement parts be sold through Boosted? How much do you expect these parts to cost?
Are there any security features (such as cryptographic authentication linking a remote control and a board) to prevent people from using stolen Boosted Boards?
I'm willing to bet from ebike knowledge that the regenerative braking is more of a marketing feature, and may not even break even with the added weight. Have you done tests on this?
Others have touched upon price so i'll ask if you had any concerns about liabilities? and are you hoping to grow organically post-kickstarter, or a funding round?