Traditional vs Electric Skateboards: Which is Better?

Whenever I go out sketching, I would usually bring along my electric skateboard. Ever since the new Personal Mobility Device (PMD) regulations kicked in, I've switched to using traditional skateboards more often. By traditional skateboards, I mean the cruiser-style skateboards (aka cruiser boards) that are meant for commuting and not for doing tricks.

In this article, I'll share with you the pros and cons of traditional (or cruiser boards) vs electric skateboards.

Do note that my recommendations are based on my commuting experience. Different people will have different needs, requirements and stay at places with different road conditions.

I just want to give you some factors to think about before you spend hundreds of dollars.

Bottomline

If your commute does not involve walking for more than 10 minutes, you can just go with a cruiser board which is significantly lighter and easier to bring around.

If you have to commute long distances, or if you have to walk up slope, an e-skateboard can help you save time by more than 50% - 70% depending on road conditions. E.g. If walking takes 30 minutes, you can cover the same distance with an e-skateboard for less than 10 minutes.

You can go long distances with cruiser boards but just be prepared to sweat a bit. I typically don't ride more than 2km each time, or for a total of 4km to and fro.

You can measure the distance you plan to cover with Google Maps (just right click on the map and choose "Measure distance".

Size and weight

Electric and non-electric skateboards are available in lots of different sizes, shapes and weight. Generally speaking, cruiser boards have more designs for the shape because there are no battery and electric components to get in the way.

The two boards above are cruiser-style skateboards which are good for short commute.

Boards shaped like the two above, Landyachtz Turbo King and Backfire Mini, are good for short commute simply because they are smaller compared to larger alternatives.

The the main advantage of normal skateboards is they are lighter and easier to bring around.

Electric skateboards can go from 3KG+ to 10KG+. Some e-skateboards heavier than lightweight bicycles, except without the bulk.

It is very important to consider the weight of an e-skateboard. Whether an e-skateboard is too heavy will depend on your usage.

Weight for cruiser board matters too. I've recently sold off my Pantheon Pranayana because it was heavier than my other cruiser boards, the Landyachtz Turbo King and Rally Cat.

For city commute (my typical use case)
For city commute, you'll be dealing with short distance (from traffic lights to the next), heavy foot traffic and relatively flat road surfaces. Maybe you'll be carrying the e-skateboard on public transport too, or carrying while walking across the bus or train station, or in shopping malls. If your commute involves going past places where you can't use a skateboard, consider the weight carefully.

I would consider an e-skateboard that's 4-5KG to be easy to bring around.

The main reason for getting a skateboard is for the convenience of getting around. If the e-skateboard is heavy, it's no longer convenient to bring it around because you want it to bring you around, not the other way.

Best type of e-skateboards for city commute are shorter longboards or cruiser boards.

I used to have a Teamgee H8 longboard which is 5.3kg. It's not as heavy compared to the Backfire Mini (6KG), but it has a long wheelbase (distance between the two sets of wheels) that requires a larger turning radius. Skateboards with long wheelbase are better at carving, and are more stable.

A longboard is not as good for handing tight turns compared to a cruiser board which are smaller, easier to manoeuvre which will come in very handy when navigating through people, turning at cross junctions, turn at tight corners.

Also, a longboard doesn't have a kick tail which means you'll have to bend down to carry the board.

Both cruiser boards and longboards can cover long distances. Advantage probably will go to the longboard for stability (lower centre of gravity) and comfort.

Wheels

You can use a huge variety of wheels for cruiser boards.

There are two types of wheels for e-skateboards: hub motor and belt-driven wheels.

Whether you can replace the urethane on the hub motor wheels will depend on the manufacturer's design. If you can't replace the polyurethane, you'll have to replace the whole hub motor. Good news is polyurethane is durable and last long.

Belt-driven wheels can be replaced just like normal skateboard wheels.

I prefer hub motor because they are quieter and does not require maintenance. For belt-driven wheels, there's the additional belt which can wear down and need replacement.

Anyway, hub motor design is cleaner. In the photo above, you can identify the hub motor wheel from the connected cables.

Oh, with hub motor, if you run out of battery, you can still push the skateboard easily. Belt-driven wheels have more resistance. If you plan your trip wheel, and remember to charge your battery, running out of battery is probably not going to happen.

Deck height

Deck height is important for non-electric skateboards because the lower the deck, the easier and less tiring it is to push.

E-skateboards usually have higher decks which is not a problem because you won't need to push them, unless you run out of battery.

Lower deck will provide more stability because of lower centre of gravity.

Stability

Stability is affected by wheelbase, deck height, weight, wheels and road conditions.

The most stable skateboard will have large wheelbase, low deck height, heavy (not good for carrying) and big wheels. E-skateboards are generally quite stable because they are significantly heavier with the battery pack.

Cruiser boards are less stable, but more zippy. I have a Landyachtz Rally Cat (above) that has a rocker (lower deck) that helps with stability and also makes it easier to push. It's not as stable due to the light weight (easy to carry around), but still stable enough for cruising long and short distances. I actually use the Rally Cat as much as my e-skateboards.

Batteries and range

High capacity batteries are big and they provide more range. How much range you need obviously depend on your commuting distance.

If you don't need to commute long distances, go with smaller capacity batteries just because they are lighter.

Battery will wear down with usage. Battery capacity will drop over time. Generally speaking, Lithium battery capacity will drop around to 80% after 300-500 full charge/dischange. That's good for two years use before you will notice significant drop in range, and you'll only notice that if you use the full range often.

If your board has a 20km range, and after two years it drops to 16KM range, that's still pretty good in my opinion. If your commute to and fro is just 10km, you can use that e-skateboard probably for 4 years before you need to change the battery.

Durability

E-skateboards have batteries and electric circuits so there are more components that can break down. I've several e-skateboards break down over the years due to water damage, board failure, battery failure and for some other unknown reasons.

Non-electric skateboards will not have those problems and will last forever.

Price

Obviously non-electric skateboards are going to be cheaper. If you don't need to commute long distances, it makes more sense, and it's more worth the money, to get a cruiser board.

However, good cruiser boards can be more expensive than cheap e-skateboards.

Other considerations

Note that if you have access to public bus or train which covers the same distance as an e-skateboard, public will be faster unless it's a really short distances.

If I'm at the bus stop and the bus just arrives, I will board the bus. If I miss the bus and I need to cover more than 1km, it's 50-50 between waiting for the next bus and going the distance with my e-skateboard. While waiting for the next bus may take more time, it's not significantly more time compared to using e-skateboard. Again how much time it takes will depend on the road conditions, e.g. slopes, traffic lights, traffic congestion.

The two e-skateboards I have now are the Ether Dual (5KG) and Backfire Mini (6KG). The Backfire Mini is better than the Ether Dual in every way except it's heavier by 1KG. And because the Backfire Mini is heavier by 1KG, I prefer the Ether Dual even though it doesn't look good and the tail on my has broken off.

The lighter the e-skateboard, the more likely you will bring it out.

Electric and non-electric skateboards have their pros and cons.

Just to conclude, if you just need to travel short distances, a cruiser board will do that for you at an affordable price.

If you need to commute long distances, study the places you'll pass through. If you have to carry the board for extended period of time, always go with the lightest possible e-skateboard. If your commute just involves putting the e-skateboard down on the ground when you leave home and picking it up again when you reach your destination, the weight doesn't really matter because you are not going to be carrying that board around.

Laws around e-skateboards

Be sure to check your local laws regarding e-skateboards. Some cities have restrictions on the types of electric personal mobility devices that can be used. Some devices may need licences, or places may be restricted to usage.

Non-electric skateboards can generally be used anywhere where bicycles are allowed.