It should come as no surprise that a few different businesses are already selling electric inline skates, sometimes known as rollerblades. But what makes the AtmosGear skates special is that the user wears the battery around their waist.
The AtmosGears are manufactured by the French business AtmosGear, and are currently the focus of a Kickstarter campaign.
According to the company, “The idea was born in 2009, after watching Air Gear: a legendary Japanese Anime with characters riding electric rollerblades. They were so fast they could literally FLY over buildings in Tokyo!”
Mido, the founder, was only 12 at the time and he LOVED skating so much that he decided he was going to become an engineer, to make his dream a reality. And, ten years later, Mido finally got into engineering school so he started prototyping. He founded AtmosGear in 2018, while still a student and even managed to hire interns to assist him, reports NewAtlas.
What makes the skates themselves special is a hub motor in the middle wheel of each one. Both motors of the rollerblades are driven by a single 280-Wh lithium-ion battery that is carried in an accompanying 3-lb (1.5-kg) fanny pack. Two different coiled cords connect that battery to each skate's middle wheel in a setup that could get a little complicated. A wireless remote that comes with the package has a thumb-switch throttle for operating the motors.
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Moving the battery out of the skates, according to the designers, makes them lighter and more manoeuvrable (each frame reportedly weighs just 1.5 lb, or 680 g) more than a regular one. It also lessens the chance that the battery will be harmed by the skates' constant pounding of the asphalt.
Additionally, the AtmosGears can be used as regular old unpowered rollerblades if the wires are cut out and the fanny pack is not used. Releasing the throttle on the remote leads them to go into unpowered mode even when they are connected. It's worth noting that the remote control has the ability to perform electronic braking and reverse motion.
In terms of specifications, the skates are said to have a range of 16 miles (26 km) between charges and a maximum speed of 18 mph (29 km/h). They can support persons weighing up to 260 lb (118 kg) and create enough torque to climb 15% gradients. Because their electronics are IP65 water-resistant, low-pressure water jets coming from all directions can't harm them.
If all goes according to plan, a pledge of €630 (about US$700) will bring you a pair of frames that you may wear with your own boots; a combination of boots and frames will cost €770 ($860). Retail costs of $850 and $1,000, respectively, are expected.
