LunchBox ESkateboard Part 0: Introduction

There is a 500 meter long walk from where I live to where I am working which I am forced to undertake every single day. As lazy as I am, I decided to build a DIY electric skateboard to relieve myself from this "excruciating" pain. So after two months of scavenging and tinkering, it is finally finished, with a lunchbox. 

A video of me testing it in local park.

The skateboard is controlled by my android application via Bluetooth as I dislike carrying an extra radio controller. Speed adjustment and brake can be triggered by pressing the volume button for convenience.  Here is a snapshot of the app UI Interface. 

The overall cost of the skateboard is 440SGD or 330 USD. The majority of components were purchased from Taobao and shipped from China to Singapore. Below is the component list. 

Mechanical

Component	Choice and remarks	Final price
deck	Normal skateboard deck	49RMB
Trucks(滑板架)	DIY kit	360+15= 375RMB
Motor mount
Pulley(轮滑组)
wheels
Motor(马达)	N5065-270kv	185+7=192RMB

Electrical

Arduino	Genuino 101	50.38SGD
BLE
ESC + link	FVT 6S 120A +USB link	305RMB
Battery	Turnigy 5000mAh 6S 20C	58.23USD	153.76 SGD (includes shipping fee)
Charger	IMAX B6AC V2	40.25USD

Miscellaneous:

XT60 to T plug converter x2	N.A.	3.30SGD
Battery Indicator	N.A.	7.38SGD
Shipping fee	N.A.	213RMB

Total:

1134RMB (231.41) + 214.83 = 446.23 SGD = 330 USD

The skateboard has a maximum speed of running at 40 km/h in theory and the battery should last about 1 hour although I have not yet run an extensive test. I have rode it on road and in park and did not run into any problem until now. Overall, I am really happy about my lunchbox skateboard and that my 1 month of effort was not spent in vain.

So this series of post will serve as a summary of this whole project experience for my future reference. I would be really glad if it helps anybody who is interested in building an electric skateboard himself.