Electric Longboard

Objective

• Motorize my longboard.

• Stay under $500.

What I did

• I started my project the same way I start all my projects: research. I searched what parts are required to make an electric longboard. I needed a motor, an electronic speed controller (ESC), and batteries. 

• I had to optimize my parts to get the most spec out of my budget. I chose to build a belt motor system to get the torque I needed to push up the raised Green Line tracks that ran through the NU campus. 

• The board was going to be powered by LiPo batteries for cost savings. I wanted two batteries connected in parallel to maximize amp-hour since I cared more about range than power transmission. 

• The system would be controlled by a VESC for ease of use. Choosing the VESC was tough because they were expensive. I decided on a brand with good customer relations. 

• I reached out to the seller to discuss discounts. I could receive a VESC for a fraction of the price, but it needed some soldering to attach the connection pins.

• Once the parts arrived, I prepared the installation. I first read the battery manuals to properly use them.

• There were initial problems I had not foreseen. My board's trucks were cylindrical with varying diameters. I had to grind a flat surface for the motor to mount on tightly.

• All the parts sat too close to the ground underneath the board. I ordered large-diameter wheels to gain ride clearance. They also provided a comfier experience.

• The soldering iron I had could not reach the temperature needed to solder the connectors. I found a publicly available soldering iron that could reach higher temperatures and made my connectors. I messed up a few XT-60s.

• After finishing the hard parts, I finally learned my way around the software to program the VESC. I made adjustments like lowering the acceleration so I would not fly off the board when starting and stopping. I also paired a wireless remote using what I learned in aeronautics class in high school.

Results

• The final board cost $546. I went over the budget because I had not planned to buy a 10-amp AC-DC adapter to charge my batteries.

• The board has an average top range of 20 mph and at least 10 miles of range, plenty to get around campus.

• For the next modifications, I plan to CAD and 3D print screw-on enclosures for the parts. For now, they are in food containers duct taped on with holes for ventilation.

• I also plan to upgrade to either LFP or lithium-ion batteries for reliability and ease of charge.