Boosted (company)

Boosted Aguas.
Formerly called
 Boosted Boards
Private
Industry
Founded 2012 (2012), Palo Alto, California, United States
Founders Sanjay Dastoor, John Ulmen, Matthew Tran
Headquarters 915 Linda Vista Avenue, Mountain View, California 94043, United States
Key people
  • Sanjay Dastoor (CEO)
  • John Ulmen (CTO)
  • Matthew Tran (CMO)
Products
Website boostedboards.com

Boosted[1] (formally Boosted Boards) is an American manufacturer based in Mountain View, California. They are widely known for their electric skateboards,[2] and for their coverage by American personality Casey Neistat.

History

Founding and start-up

Boosted was start-up in summer 2012, and was backed by StartX.[3] The company was founded by Sanjay Dastoor, John Ulmen, and Matthew Tran, who delivered a TED talk on the subject in 2013.[4]

Kickstarter campaign and development

The company started a Kickstarter campaign promising a premium electric skateboard called the "Boosted Board" for a $100,000 goal. It was a massive success, and generated over $467K from backers.[5]

In 2014, the original Boosted Board was renamed the Dual+, and two new models were announced: the Dual and the Single. The Dual and Single received new, upgraded software. The Dual+ also received the software following the announcement. All Kickstarter and pre-upgrade models of the Dual+ were upgraded with new software at no additional cost.

Boosted board 2 and future endeavors

On May 19, 2016, the Boosted Board 2 was announced. Notable features include a swappable battery for an optional extended range battery, water resistance, 80mm Orangatang Kegel wheels, upgraded Bluetooth radio which is more secure and allows an additional device to be connected, an accessory port, and the ability to service and repair the board by the user.[6] Shipping is slated for August 2016, beginning with the Dual+ model for customers in the United States and Canada, followed by the Dual and then the Single. However, the Single model has been delayed until early 2017. U.S and Canada orders will be fulfilled first, followed by international orders.[7]

American YouTube personality Casey Neistat was able to test drive it, as he is one of the frequent collaborators with Boosted.

According to CEO Sanjay Dastoor, Boosted is looking into other products other than skateboards, but Dastoor is unable to disclose information about future products.[8]

Products

Boosted Board

The Boosted Board is the only and exclusive product from Boosted, as it is an electric skateboard that is controlled by a remote, regulating its speed and control. Currently, there are two generations of the board, with the second generation being shipped in August 2016. All boards are nearly identical except for subtle changes such as the number of motors, power output, and the grip tape. The extra traction grip tape is exclusive to the Dual+. In addition, all boards have "Beginner," "Eco," and "Expert" riding modes, with "Pro" mode exclusive to the Dual+ model. All models have regenerative braking and take about 1 hour to charge on a standard battery. The extended range battery for the second generation boards will take about 1 hour and 45 minutes to charge.[9][10]

Models

Single

The "Single" is the cheapest and most economical model that Boosted has manufactured. It has a single motor configuration with a 1000W peak output, an 8 mile* range from a single charge (14 miles* with extended range battery), a top speed of 18 mph, and can climb 10% grade hills. It stands at an introductory price of $999, or $1099 for the extended range .[9]

Dual

The "Dual" is the mid-range model of the Boosted Board. Unlike the Single model, the Dual has a twin-motor configuration with a 1500W peak output, 750W per motor, a 7 mile* range from a single charge (12 miles* with extended range battery), a top speed of 20 mph, and can climb 20% grade hills. It stands at a price of $1299, or $1399 for the extended range.[9]

Dual+

The "Dual+" is the original and most powerful model of the Boosted Board, and as such, highlights a twin-motor configuration with a 2,000W peak output, 1000W per motor, a 7 mile* range from a single charge (12 miles* with extended range battery), a top speed of 22 mph, and can climb 25% grade hills. The Dual+ was originally named the "Boosted Board" before the 2014 rebranding, and like the Dual model, has 7 miles of range*. It stands at a price of $1499, or $1599 for the extended range.[9]

*Range estimations based upon a 185 lb rider riding in "Eco" mode. Actual results may vary depending on the user's weight, environmental conditions, riding mode, and riding style.

Generations

First generation

The first generation Boosted Board has a fiberglass-esque Loaded bamboo deck of 38 inches, Caliber trucks, 75mm Orangatang In Heat wheels and was serviceable with certain primary parts like belts and bearings, available to order from Boosted's website.

Second generation

The second generation Boosted Board was introduced in May 2016 with plans for major improvements, such as being able to have a user-removable battery (99 Wh)[11] or the bigger battery (199 Wh),[12] water-resistance, upgraded Bluetooth radio with the ability to connect an additional device, an accessory port, and an improved drive-train. The board now has modular components, which allows the user to service the board with ease instead of having to ship the board to Boosted.[9] If a user decides to purchase additional batteries, the standard range battery will cost $299 and the extended range battery will cost $399.[10] On November 3rd 2016 the Second Gen boards stopped being shipped by Boosted Boards because of an issue relating to the lithium batteries discharging smoke.

Accessories

Remote

The Boosted remote connects to the board via Bluetooth. A remote comes pre-paired with the board. The remote allows the user to control the speed and brakes of the board, as well as the torque.[13] The second generation remote contains an upgraded Bluetooth radio which is more secure and allows an additional device to be connected.[6]

Charger

The charger for the Boosted Board has a 120W output that charges the skateboard up to 85% in half an hour, and 100% in an hour.[14] The charger is 100-240V and 50-60 Hz, allowing the charger to be used anywhere in the world. Using the charger in another country may require an adapter, as the charger is a standard U.S. 3 prong plug.[15]

Bearing Service Kit

A service kit for the wheel bearings are available.[16] They include:

Wheels

The Orangatang wheels on the board are a bright orange to reflect the company's vibrant logo. It can be bought altogether as one pair of front and back wheels.[17]

Motor Belt Service Kit

The Motor Belt Service Kit is a service kit that allows the user to replace the belts.[18] It features:

Decals

Logo decals are available for nighttime visibility.[19]

Reception

The original Boosted Board was criticized mainly for its price. At $2,000 it was seen as unaffordable. It was later bumped down to $1,499 following subsequent rebranding as the Dual+ in 2014.

The second-generation boards have received mostly positive reviews from engadget,[20] Tech Crunch,[21] Gizmodo[22] and the specialist Electric Ride Review.[23]

References

  1. ↑ "Boosted Boards on the App Store". Apple Inc. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  2. ↑ "Boosted Rolls Out Cheaper, Even More Dangerous Electric Skateboards". WIRED. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  3. ↑ Lawler, Ryan (6 September 2012). "Stanford's StartX Incubator Says It's Number 2 In Funding Per Startup, With $80 Million Raised Over Two Years". TechCrunch. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  4. ↑ Dastoor, Sanjay, A skateboard, with a boost, retrieved 2016-06-18
  5. ↑ "Boosted Boards - The World's Lightest Electric Vehicle". Kickstarter. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  6. 1 2 Jack, Robbie (2016-05-19). "Introducing the 2nd Generation Boosted Board - Boosted Boards". Retrieved 2016-07-31.
  7. ↑ "Pre-Order Shipping Update". Boosted Boards. Retrieved 2016-07-31.
  8. ↑ "Ama request Sanjay Dastoor • /r/boostedboards". reddit. Retrieved 2016-07-31.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Introducing the 2nd Generation Boosted Board - Electric Skateboard, Electric Longboard". Boosted Inc. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  10. 1 2 Jack, Robbie. "Boosted Boards FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions". Retrieved 2016-07-31.
  11. ↑
  12. ↑
  13. ↑ "Extra Remote - Boosted Boards". Boosted Inc. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  14. ↑ "Fast Charger - Boosted Boards". Boosted Inc. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  15. ↑ "Fast Charger". Boosted Boards. Retrieved 2016-07-31.
  16. ↑ "Bearing Service Kit - Boosted Boards". Boosted Inc. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  17. ↑ "Replacement Wheels - Boosted Boards". Boosted Inc. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  18. ↑ "Motor Belt Service Kit - Boosted Boards". Boosted Inc. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  19. ↑ "Reflective Decals - Boosted Boards". Boosted Inc. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  20. ↑ "IRL: A closer look at Boosted Boards' Dual+ electric skateboard". Engadget. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  21. ↑ Constine, Josh. "Feet-On With Boosted Boards' New Faster And Cheaper Electric Skateboards". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  22. ↑ Estes, Adam Clark. "The New Boosted Boards Are Actually Affordable (and Still Badass)". Gizmodo. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  23. ↑ "Boosted Boards Boosted Dual+ Review - ElectricRideReview.com". Electric Ride Reviews & Ratings. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
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