As electric motors become more and more advanced, we’re seeing a greater breadth of products turn to electrification. Evidently, the time is right to add an electric motor to your inline skates. At the very least, Escend Blades thinks so. The new Escend Blades Electric Inline Skates take the work out of skating and add some zoom and zip to your day.
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Image: Escend Blades
Escend cofounders Anton and Rashid began working on motorised inline skates back in October 2020. Just think – both Anton and Rashid were working for another electric mobility company and, as the fates would have it, both were working on prototypes of electric skates. When they discovered this, they quit their jobs, partnered up, and created the Escend Blades Alphas. The blades are powered by a 5.2Ah battery pack housed in the centre of the blade itself. Those packs electrify a 400-watt hub motor that is connected to the rear wheel of each blade.
The rear wheel also houses the brakes, which you’ll definitely need. Escend also offers the boots in two different styles: The Metro Boots, which are like ski shoes and come in specific shoe sizes, and the Doop Boots, which are more similar to snowboard bindings—so you keep your shoes on and strap in, making this a great option for sharing. The frame of the skates is made of aerospace-grade aluminium and the tires are silicon rubber that’s been custom-made to fit the 105mm diameter. The tires offer some shock absorption and are good for at least 1,000 km (621 miles) of riding.
Image: Escend Blades
You control the skates via a wireless remote complete with tactile vibration and predictive alerts. The skates have enough giddy-up to propel you to a top speed of 25 km/h, depending on the speed mode you have selected. Said speed modes consist of Eco (0–10 km/h), Commute (10–18 km/h), and Turbo (18-25 km/h). They also feature reverse in all three speed modes. Getting a full charge on the skates will take about 2 hours and will give you a range of 15 km. There is regenerative braking to help extend your battery life as well.
The skates are IP66-certified waterproof, so you can wear them on wet days and they adhere to FAA guidelines, so you can travel with them. You can pick up the Metro Boots for $869 and the Doop Boots for $919 through Escend’s website.
Image: Escend Blades
