The main component of any electric skateboard build is the motor. You should plan your entire build around your engine (s). You have to think about how fast you want to go and how far you plan to travel. You have to think about whether you would still like to have the freedom of being able to push your board or have the ability to climb hills.
So what type of motor should I buy?
I'm not going to tell you which one is better. That's a saved argument for Facebook groups and builder forums. My duty is simply to inform and hopefully point in the direction of its construction.
Hub motors
Hub motors are motors that are exactly how you read them; They are motors that act like the hubs of the wheels (usually the rear). As they turn, so does the wheel. They require no other moving parts, make barely a noticeable noise, and come in quite a few different fixed speed settings. You can even go to the skate park and ride this like a normal board if you are very confident and have a bulletproof battery and ESC housing. Since electric skateboard hub motor, only use sleeves as wheels, you are limited in the type of wheels you can buy. However, replacement covers are easy to find, and new styles appear all the time. A unique feature of hub motors, aside from their silence, is the ability to propel the board normally if the batteries are depleted. And depending on your engine configuration, you may even be able to recharge your batteries this way.
Belt drive motors
Belt drive motors feature a brushless motor (s) with a pulley that connects via a belt to a larger pulley on the wheel. Belt drives offer you multiple interchangeable options for gear ratio, high torque, and speed. These can be great engines if you live in a hilly country or plan a mixed use on and off road for your construction. Some DIY off-road riders convert their belt drives to chain drives for added durability. You can run them as a single-engine or dual-engine configuration. They also tend to have many moving parts that may require adjustment and can vibrate loose or come out of the square. Depending on your setup, the torque these monstrous little engines put out may require adjustment to the engine mounts, belts, and motors during and after a hard ride. But when you dial it, the power will make you smile. Truly the best part about belt drives, aside from the high torque curve, is the fact that you can adapt any system for use on virtually any skateboard truck, any skateboard wheel, or off-road wheels that you can fit. a pulley. The online community is huge and there is a lot of support if you need help and crazy questions are not welcome.
Direct management
Direct drive offers the best of hub and belt drive as they have the high torque and high speed of belt driven motors with direct input from hub motors so there are no belts, brackets or pulleys. Throttle is 100% adjustable as is the belt drive with all that power going straight to the wheels. In addition to all that direct power, these motors tend to dissipate heat quickly, so running at higher speeds for longer periods makes them the ideal choice for the uphill racer. With these engines, you have the perfect combination of ease of use, quick acceleration, and well-balanced power control. Best of all, you can use any skating wheel that you can fit an adapter on, including off-road wheels and push kick when you were too dumb to charge the battery at the last stop. Of course, there is no one perfect motor for all situations and the direct drive has its flaws. Direct drive motors are BIG. Their relative size places them very close to the ground and subject to damage from debris. Their cans are not bulletproof, and even a small stone can cause damage. Cyclists using pneumatic wheels on and off the road would greatly benefit from direct drive. For the brave soul who wants to feel the power and run slow and fast on urethane wheels, you'll want to start learning how to carve and knit quickly.
Gear drive
The gear drive may look like new, but DIY "reducers" have been experimenting with gear drive systems for years. For the most part, gear transmission systems are small, sophisticated closed fixed gear systems that feature the best of all previous systems. You can change your wheels whenever you want, belt-free, with belt-drive torque, all in a compact system with room to destroy both the mountains and the cityscape. Most of these systems are incredibly responsive and ridiculously compact. Some amazing DIY off-road racing rigs even feature interchangeable gears, though for the most part, you'll find that fixed gear systems are the norm. The biggest drawback of this system is the noise from the gears, which can be deafening for the most sensitive (for the rest of us it is just annoying), the complexity and the cost. These can be very expensive integrated drivetrains for many DIY builders. However, the expense is worth it if you can afford it. If you're a serious off-road racer desperately looking for a sealed high-speed system, this may be the engine / drivetrain combination for you.
What characteristics will my engine have?
Before you can make eSk8, you have to decide what kind of electric skateboard you want to build. Do you live in the city and don't go to the hills or the trails as often? You can build a fast but inexpensive electric skateboard motor dash or single belt drive with a lightweight battery and fit it on an old school back dash or retro pintail rig, and lay your way through the urban wasteland. Are you feeling playful and like to get muddy? Then a monstrous dual motor belt drive with knobby 8- or 9-inch AT wheels and pneumatic tires paired with suspension trucks on a Trap-style deck with bindings will give you a good time. Do you have a need for speed? A long cross-hill downhill board combined with direct drive and a 12s4p battery will poke your eyes in original site the back of your head. Now that you have your dream construction in mind, write it down on paper. Write down what table style you want. Visit a website like Skateshred.com, Zumiez.com, or better yet, visit your local skate shop and check out what they have to offer. Write down the style of a skateboard you want to buy. This will be the beginning of your parts list.