Skip to main content

Rethink your whole commute with the intuitive, lean-to-steer CycleBoard

cycleboard electric scooters k1 pic
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Your commute has never been as easy as it can be with the CycleBoard. Bid adieu to crowded public transportation and gas-guzzling car rides — instead, you can rely on the first stand-up, lean-to-steer, portable electric vehicle to get you safely and efficiently from Point A to Point B.

Meant to satisfy both commuters and adrenaline junkies alike, the CycleBoard is an inherently stable form of transportation thanks to its three-wheeled design. Really, you can think of it as a grown-up scooter, but one that you don’t even have the push to ride. The vehicle (because really, that’s what it is) can reach up to 20 miles per hour, though for your younger kids, you can program the Board to top out at lower speeds.

Recommended Videos

And because the CycleBoard’s movement depends on your own movement, your reflexes become your steering wheel. That means that your experience is exactly what you make of it — the more aggressive your approach, the more adventurous of a ride you’ll have.

As is stands, a number of CycleBoard models are available, starting at $1,300. The Phantom Black Elite, for example, features a 15-mile range on full charge, and can hit a top speed of 20 mph. Its shock-absorbing inflatable tires and cruise control capabilities make it a relatively easy ride whether you’re getting to work or just going for a stroll around the neighborhood. It weighs in at just 44 pounds and its platform is 23 inches long and 8.5 inches wide.

More expensive models, like the Nighthawk Elite, can set you back up to $1,700, but feature an extended battery pack for a 25-mile range on a full charge. Plus, the Nighthawk comes with an integrated security lock and a universal smart phone mount, as well as an additional deck and three-piece fender kit.

CycleBoards are capable of accommodating riders of up to 250 pounds, and have an adjustable handlebar height of 34 to 40 inches. And don’t worry — you don’t need to have a license to operate one of these Boards — at least, not in the U.S. If you’re planning on driving internationally, however, you ought to check local laws in your country of use.

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
Hyundai’s brand new Ioniq 9 EV features backseat lounge
hyundai ioniq 9 lounge 4 single image desktop

After months of teasing details about the Ioniq 9, Hyundai’s much-anticipated, three-row electric SUV, the company finally unveiled it at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

One of the Ioniq 9’s promised features -- that the SUV had the ability to offer a lounge-like interior – had most of us wondering what exactly that might mean.

Read more
Kia America COO says ending EV tax credit would be dumb
kia coo ending ev incentive dumb zeta evs

With Kia just getting started with the expansion of its U.S.-made electric-vehicle (EV) lineup, the automaker may have a good perspective on what losing tax incentives on EVs could mean for the industry and the economy.

The transition team of the incoming Trump administration is reportedly planning to end the federal $7,500 tax credit on the purchase or lease of an EV. Under the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), an EV made in North America is eligible for the incentive.

Read more
Mercedes bets solar paint is part of EV-charging future
mercedes solar paint evs benz electric camper

It’s been said that Albert Einstein’s genius came from his ability to freely wonder and ask child-like questions way before he even tried applying science-based solutions.
It seems some within the R&D department at Mercedes-Benz might be similarly inspired. The German automaker is currently developing a special solar paint that, when applied on the surface of vehicles, can harness enough energy from the sun to power up EVs.
The energy generated by the paint’s solar cells can be used for driving or fed directly into a high-voltage battery.
“The photovoltaic system is permanently active and also generates energy when the vehicle is switched off,” Mercedes says. “In the future, this could be a highly effective solution for increased electric range and fewer charging stops.”
The layer of paste to be applied on EVs is significantly thinner than a human hair, yet its photovoltaic cells are packed full of energy. Covering the surface of a mid-size SUV with the paint could produce enough energy for up to 7,456 miles per year under ideal conditions, Mercedes says.
This does imply being in geographic locations with plenty of sun hours during the day.
But even with less-than-ideal sun hours, the energy yielded can make a significant difference to EV charging. Mercedes says the solar-paint charge could provide 100% of needed energy for an average daily drive of 32 miles in sun-drenched Los Angeles. In much less sunny conditions -- such as around Mercedes’ headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany -- it would still yield enough energy for 62% of the distance.
An added bonus for environmentally-conscious drivers: Unlike some solar panels, the solar paint contains no rare earth or silicon – only non-toxic, readily available raw materials. It’s also easy to recycle and considerably cheaper to produce than conventional solar modules, Mercedes says.
The likes of Aptera, Sono Motors, Lightyear, and Hyundai have also been researching how to best harness solar energy to power up EVs.
But that’s been mostly through solar panels yielding enough energy for small and light vehicles, such as Aptera’s three-wheel solar EV. Solar paint could bring solar charging for bigger vehicles, such as electric SUVs, Mercedes says.

Read more