Hoverboards have been on the tip of the nation’s tongue for a long time now, particularly as the misnomer for balance boards that have led to their eventual yanking off of Amazon. It’s no doubt been a precipitous fall from grace but, at least, the term ‘hoverboard’ can be reclaimed and bestowed on something that actually hovers — something like the ArcaBoard.
Let’s be clear: the ArcaBoard is a true blue hoverboard, not the type that needs an entire park to be built in order to make it work. By using 36 high-powered electric duct fans, the rectangular board can support up to 243lbs and pump out a whopping 272 hp for a top speed of 12.5mph. A built-in stabilization unit helps riders float safely, with an option to control it either using an iOS or Android smartphone or only the body — which the team at the ARCA Space Corporation recommends for a more authentic experience.
The team also recommends about 20 minutes to get comfortable riding the ArcaBoard, after which all types of terrain can be conquered at a maximum height of about one foot. $10,000 is the price for a piece of a Jetsonian future, slated to ship in July 2016. The ArcaBoard Kickstarter campaign is looking for $250,000 by March 21st, 2016 to start up production.
Unsurprisingly, the ArcaBoard’s biggest downside is battery life. (Aren’t you sick and tired of hearing about battery limitations?) While its normally six-hour charging time can be improved to just 35 minutes with the optional $4,500 ArcaDock accessory, either option only gets users a grand total of six minutes of rides — not a significant amount of time whatsoever. Still, the ArcaBoard impresses despite its not-quite-there status. A successful campaign now and about five to seven more years will result in a product that can truly serve as a part of someone’s day versus just being an exorbitant novelty.