Lexus promised it, and they delivered. The world's first rideable hoverboard has been put to the test in a skate park in Cubelles, a village outside of Barcelona, Spain.
The luxury vehicle division of Toyota decided to build a brand new skate park for showcasing the full potential of their action sports gadget. The park made out of wood has been painted to look like cement.The entire complex features an embedded magnetic track so that the Lexus Hoverboard can work properly. The futuristic skateboard is basically superconducting material, kept at -197°C through immersion in liquid nitrogen. And it floats two inches off the ground.
"The magnetic field from the track is effectively 'frozen' into the superconductors in the board, maintaining the distance between the board and track - essentially keeping the board in a hover. The force is strong enough that the rider can stand and even jump on the board," explains Oliver de Hass, CEO of evico, a company specialized in magnetic levitation technology.
Right now, the hoverboard must be recharged with liquid nitrogen every 20 minutes. So it still isn't the dream skateboard seen in "Back to the Future Part II."
However, the boys had fun. With time, they found their balance and started riding over water and gliding on the technologically-enhanced bowls.
"I've spent 20 years skateboarding, but without friction it feels like I've had to learn a whole new skill, particularly in the stance and balance you need to ride the hoverboard," explains Ross McGouran, a pro skateboarder involved in the Lexus project.
