FAHRVERGNÜGEN
Our team.
FAHRVERGNÜGEN
Our project aimed to develop and produce an electric skateboard by exploring the technical possibilities and limitations of low cost designs. Our ultimate goal - to build a skateboard that has a range of 15 miles.
We are a team of two Babson and three Olin students, who aimed to design and assemble an electric skateboard. The idea was born out of the need for inexpensive and reliable transportation. Needham’s suburban setting is relatively isolated for those without access to a car and e-skateboards are significantly less unwieldy and can be taken on public transportation without being a nuisance. Furthermore, skateboards minimize the ecological impact of travel in a manner that standard cars cannot.
The motor mount and assembly for the electric motor used to power the skateboard.
At the end of the semester, we had succeeded in producing the first working prototype for an electrically powered skateboard. It achieved the speed we were aiming for and has the desired mechanical stability and flexibility. Nevertheless, we see the potential for improvement in some areas. The fellowship allowed for this to come to life in many ways, but the most valuable aspect remains the opportunity to network and build long lasting relationships with students from other colleges.
One of the major challenges we faced was that we underestimated the effort involved in producing the electronics. Therefore, in order to achieve the initial target range of 15 miles, we still need to improve our batteries.
Our coordination and team management became the second challenge the group faced. As a team of five students going to different colleges with different learning strategies, we had to strive for a schedule that respected the timetables of all project members. This took a toll on our productivity, but we took a lot from it in terms of efficient coordination.
Even though the semester-long fellowship has ended, we do plan on further continuing our project. Next semester we will continue with the production of our next - and probably final - skateboard. We will upgrade it both performance-wise and aesthetically.
**This post was created in conjunction with the Foundry Fellowship program. FAHRVERGNÜGEN received a grant that enabled this project to move forward. If you’d like to learn more about the program, or have an idea for a grant for yourself, please visit our info-page here.