While purchasing an electric skateboard can be perfectly easy, you have to be prepared to spend an average of $1,000.

If that’s not possible, then don’t worry – you can build one on your own! There are countless different kits that make it easy. If you’re especially handy, you can develop one entirely from scratch. As long as you have the right tools and instructions, it’s not as difficult as you may expect.

Here we’ll discuss all you need to know, so you’ll be well equipped for the adventure.

What You Need

  • Deck.
  • Motor.
  • Battery Pack Cells.
  • ESC.
  • Wheels.
  • Drive Pulley.
  • Wheel Pulley.
  • Belt.
  • Controller.
  • Soldering iron.

The Components

Deck

The deck or board of a skateboard is absolutely the most valuable competent. Since this part bears the most weight, has everything strapped to it, and takes the most wear and tear, you want it to be quality.

You can buy a new board, make one of your own, or use one you have laying around. Any wood deck will work fine – but make sure it’s a longboard deck with a length of about 36 inches. Not only does this allow more space for you to move your feet, but it can accommodate a greater number of mounts.

Feel free to be as creative with this part as you want. Whatever design or color you prefer, it doesn’t matter.

Motor

The type of motor you buy all depends on your speed expectations. You can easily pick one up at a hobby shop or online.

While you’ll find a wide variety of motors, make sure you choose a brushless out-runner DC motor with a KV rating of 170 to 245, as well as a wattage between 1500 and 3000. The lower the rating, the higher the torque is going to be. The more wattage there is, the better.

Battery

Your choice of battery will determine for how long you can travel. It also affects how long it takes to charge the board.

There are two types: the Li-ion and the LiPo. LiPos are cheaper but not as sturdy, so the Li-ion is the best – but only if you can afford it.

It’s important for the battery to be compatible with the motor. Make sure the volts of the battery are equal to or less than the volts on your motor. Additionally, look at the mAh, which measures how much power the battery has. The more, the better!

To determine how long your battery will last, there is a simple equation: (mAh)*(voltage)/1000 = watt hours

For every watt hour, you will gain 1 km of distance (⅔ of a mile). Whatever battery you end up choosing, ensure you abide by the safety instructions. Building and riding an electric skateboard can be fun, but mismatching components can leave you with a useless board – or a dangerous one.

ESC

The ESC stands for the “electronic speed controller.” This will be your primary method of controlling the board. The ESC is connected to both the controller/transmitter and the battery, and tells the motor how fast to go.

The most-used kind for DIY electric skateboards is the VESC – or Vedder’s ESC. It’s the standard in the industry. It comes in several different varieties, depending on the power of your skateboard. There is a VESC 4.12, which can go up to 27 amps, and a VESC 6, which can go up to 50 amps.

Be sure that your ESC has a UBEC. This means the ESC can connect directly to your controller without any external power source. Most ESC come with this, but checking to confirm wouldn’t hurt.

Additionally, if you want a sensored motor, you will need a sensored ESC. Otherwise, your motor will work as a basic one.

Wheels/Pulleys/Belt

The wheels, pulleys, and belt all combine to make the drivetrain. As such, first determine “the wheel pulley to drive pulley ratio” (a.k.a. the gear reduction ratio). It should be around 2.5, but the range can be anywhere from 1.5 to 3 – with lower being better.

There are numerous websites and calculators to help you make this calculation. If you’re not a math person, don’t worry! To design your drivetrain correctly, you need to know the revolutions per minute of your motor. Luckily, most motors provide this information. Next, determine your desired top speed.

When it comes to the wheels, the bigger the wheels, the higher off the ground you’ll be and the more clearance you’ll need. Larger wheels also mean you can go faster, with greater stability as you ride. However, it also means less torque and less acceleration. As such, 83 mm is the most common diameter for electric skateboard wheels.

Controller

The controller is different from the ESC in that it’s the piece you hold in your hand to control the ESC. You can use a simple RC controller for this. They are reliable and don’t require any soldering. You’ll sync the controller to the ESC which will in turn control the motor and tell it how fast or slow to go.

Assembly

Ready-Made Kits

If you end up purchasing a DIY electric skateboard kit, all you need to do is follow the instructions that come along with it.

They will show you how to mount everything on the deck, what holes you’ll need to drill for certain parts, how to wire everything, and what goes where. It is the simplest way to make your own electric skateboard, without doing too much work.

From-Scratch DIY

However, if you want to truly build your own DIY electric skateboard – from scratch – you’ll need to purchase each part separately. You should first research the best motors, enclosures, wires, decks, and wheels. There are countless on the market, but that’s where the internet is your friend.

Whatever you end up buying, make sure it is the best quality you can afford. Electric skateboards can be dangerous enough on their own; you don’t want to exacerbate that with cheap parts.

Start with the Deck

The first step is the deck. If you purchase one, you are ahead of the game. If you make one, cut it to the size and shape you like. Ensure it’s long enough to provide ample room for your feet. If you make it out of wood, you’ll need to sand it well.

Wheels and Mounts

Once the deck is set, place the wheels and any additional items you intend on mounting onto the board. This allows you to visually gauge how much room is available. You can also move or readjust the components into a pleasing arrangement, before anything is permanently attached.

Once you’re satisfied, mark (in pencil) the spots where screws will go. After this, begin drilling.

When the holes are drilled, you can add color, different skins, or whatever design you want on the board. Make it your own!

Motor

Now, it’s time for the motor and a bit of soldering.

You need to connect the wires of the motor and the ESC (this is where you’ll need the soldering iron). Then, put everything into some kind of enclosure. The choice is yours! You can use a metal box, make something of your own using a 3D printer, or find another box that will hold everything and is able to attach to the deck.

Connect the Electronics

Secure everything inside the enclosure. Then, insert the battery and connect it to both the ESC and the motor via the cables/wires.

Make sure the positive and negative cables are connected to the right areas on the battery. You could ruin your battery quickly if you mix these up.

Also, secure the ground wire so there are no electrical issues. Use Velcro tape to secure the batteries in place.

Pulley and Belt

Next, it’s pulley and belt time. If you are new to making your own electric skateboard, this part may take some trial and error. You should ensure the belts are snug, but not too tight, while checking that the pulleys are secure.

This is also where your wheels come into play. The belts, pulleys, and gears will attach to the wheels, ensuring they move when the motor is turned on.

Installing on the Deck

Once the above steps are finished, it’s time to secure it all on the deck. Mount the wheels first. The wheels should already be mounted on a bracket, so you need only screw the bracket to the deck. Do this on both ends of the board.

Next, secure your enclosure onto the deck. You’ll most likely screw the enclosure onto the deck, but this depends on what type enclosure you chose.

Finally, set up your remote and make sure it syncs with the ESC. Check that each function (forward, reverse, brake, etc.) works while the board is on your workbench. It’s better to find something wrong here than when you go to ride it.

Take a Bow

And that’s it! While it may take some time, making your own custom electric skateboard is not as difficult as you might think. As long as the battery is charged, you can hop on and go for a ride.

Wrapping Up

Now that you know the basics of making your own DIY electric skateboard, you can experiment with different motors, decks, wheels, and anything else you want to customize. While there are plenty of great boards on the market, creating a personalized model can be far more satisfying – and more cost-effective.