Most Portable and Powerful Long Range Personal Electric Vehicle?
The Backfire Mini is a small electric skateboard with a top speed of 26 mph (42 km/h) and standard range of 9-11 miles (15-18 km) per charge.
One of the headlines on their Indiegogo page is “The World's Most Portable and Powerful Long Range Personal Electric Vehicle”.
Is this true? Is the Backfire Mini really the most portable and powerful electric skateboard?
When it comes to power, the Backfire Mini is certainly not the most powerful.
The Mini is powered by 2 450W “ultra-high power ultra-high torque hub motors” for a total power of 900W. If we assume power is all about the power of the motors, there are many electric skateboards with so much more power than the Mini.
For example, the Bamboo GTR Street by Evolve Skateboards uses dual 1500W brushless motors for a total of 3000W of power.
Most powerful motor for a mini electric skateboard?
Even for a mini electric skateboard, the Backfire Mini is still not the most powerful.
The Boosted Mini X uses a 1000W motor and the new Stoke Board uses 2 1500W motors for a total of 3000W.
But among the two mentioned above, the Backfire Mini is the lightest at 12.8 lbs (5.8 kg). The Boosted Mini X weighs 16.8 lbs (7.6 kg) and the Stoke Board weighs 17.9 lbs (8.16 kg).
However, in terms of power-per-pound power-to-weight ratio, the Backfire Mini still falls short at 900/12.8 = 70.3 W per pound compared to 167.6 W per pound for the Stoke Board. However the Backfire Mini's power-to-weight ratio is better than that of the Boosted Mini X, which comes at 59.5 W per pound.
The Backfire Mini has enough power to climb 25% grade hills while the Boosted Mini X can only 20%. The Stoke Board, which has the highest power-to-weight ratio can go up 30% grade hills.
Backfire Mini vs Boosted Mini X:
What about speed?
It's logical to assume the higher the power-to-weight ratio, the faster the board can go.
However, the Backfire Mini, which does not have the highest power-to-weight ratio turns out to have the highest top speed at 26 mph (42 km/h).
In comparison, the Boosted Mini X has a top speed of 20 mph (32 km/h) and the Stoke Board clocks in at 22mph (35 km/h).
It would be more accurate to say the Backfire Mini is the fastest mini electric skateboard. One caveat with the top speed of the Backfire Mini is that it can only be sustained over a short period.
Why should you choose Backfire Mini?
Apart from the respectable top speed of 26 mph, another reason to choose the Backfire Mini is its ease of use, stability, and manoeuvrability.
The Mini has a concave deck to keep your feet in place, wide trucks for stability, a long wheelbase for control, and precise braking and acceleration. See the demo in the video below.
If you're good, you can even do some skateboarding tricks with the Backfire Mini.
Smooth brake system:
Specs and features
- Weight: 5.8 kg / 12.8 lbs
- Dimensions: 79 * 22.5 cm / 31 * 8.85 inches
- Top Speed: 42 kmh / 26 mph
- Range: 18 km / 11 miles
- Max Load: 110 kg / 240 lbs
- Removable Battery: Samsung 21700 40T
- 1.5 hrs fast charging
- Water resistant
- Relatively quiet
Range test:
Pros
- Lightweight
- Excellent manoeuvrability
- Respectable top speed
- Smooth and safe braking system
- Can climb 25% grade hills
- Removable battery
- 1.5 hours fast charging
- Affordable
Cons
- Not the most powerful as it claims to be
- 11 mile range may not be enough
- Top speed cannot be sustained for long
- Since the board has no flex, it could get bumpy
- Indiegogo campaign at the moment
Conclusion:
At its current price of $499 the Backfire Mini is good value. It's faster than the more expensive Boosted Mini X and the Stoke Board. The design is also well-thought-out making it quite a rideable mini electric skateboard.
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