An apparatus and method for reducing the incidence of sudden stoppage while riding a self balancing skateboard. Wheels are mounted with the front of the bumper, or integrated within a special replacement bumper, of the skateboard to provide a low-friction rollout instead of an instant stop, allowing the rider to maintain control in the event that the front of the board contacts the ground. The wheels protrude from a lower surface of the bumper to limit contact of the bumper with the ground.

A motorized vehicle assembly includes an axle comprising a channel extending along a central axis of the axle, a socket positioned within the channel of the axle, and a motorized wheel configured to be mounted on an end the axle. The motorized wheel includes a boss configured to engage the end of the axle when the motorized wheel is mounted on the axle, an electric motor, a tire mounted on the rotor, and a plug positioned within the boss, the plug configured to engage with the socket when the motorized wheel is mounted on the axle. The electric motor includes a stator fixed to the boss and a rotor surrounding the stator, the rotor configured to rotate relative to the stator. The electric motor is configured to cause the rotor to rotate relative to the stator to cause the tire to rotate.

When an electric vehicle is traveling downhill, experiencing regenerative braking, or otherwise forcing the vehicle motor to turn faster than the commanded motor torque, the vehicle motor produces electrical energy that can be used to recharge a vehicle battery. However, if the vehicle battery is already nearly or fully charged, the excess electrical energy produced may damage the battery. Control systems described herein may reduce and/or dispose of the excess energy by manipulating the motor flux (i.e., direct) current and quadrature current independently.

An inline skate frame and axle assembly includes a frame having single sidewall that mounts a plurality of outwardly-extending axle assemblies. The sidewall has a wheel-mounting portion, a forward attachment portion and a rearward attachment portion. A forward attachment member includes a leg that extends outwardly from the sidewall between wheels on the skate, and a first attachment plate that cooperatively with the first attachment portion is configured to attach a skate base. A similar rearward attachment member comprises a leg and a second attachment plate that cooperatively with the second attachment portion is configure to attach the skate base. In embodiments the axle assemblies are rotationally locked to the sidewall, and include a cap member rotationally locked to the axle to prevent wheel rotation from loosening and wheel retaining connector.

A modular motorized wheel system is provided for replacing a conventional wheel of a conventional skateboard. The wheel is retained on the axle of the skateboard by an end nut removably attachable to the outside end of the axle. The system includes a motor shaft having an axial bore therethrough. The bore is sized to make the motor shaft concentrically and removably mountable on the axle. The motor shaft has an exterior end formed in an open cylindrical shape, the exterior end including an axially displaced shoulder sized to receive and abut the end nut, by which the motor shaft is secured on the axle. Other embodiments are provided.

When an electric vehicle is traveling downhill, experiencing regenerative braking, or otherwise forcing the vehicle motor to turn faster than the commanded motor torque, the vehicle motor produces electrical energy that can be used to recharge a vehicle battery. However, if the vehicle battery is already nearly or fully charged, the excess electrical energy produced may damage the battery. Control systems described herein may reduce and/or dispose of the excess energy by manipulating the motor flux (i.e., direct) current and quadrature current independently.

A powered skateboard having a powered wheel. The powered wheel formed of a motor within tire of the wheel. The powered wheel fixed to a truck of the powered skateboard. The powered skateboard including at least one onboard battery to provide electrical power to the powered wheel.

A caster board can include a front platform, a rear platform, and at least two neck sections extending between the front platform and the rear platform. The neck sections can serve as a torsion element allowing twisting of the front platform relative to the rear platform. An aperture between the neck sections can be configured to receive an insert. The insert can alter a structural characteristic of the caster board, such as the torsional stiffness of the caster board.

A modular, multi-part roller skate is provided. The multi-part roller skate includes a roller skate body, a front wheel assembly, a rear wheel assembly, a support surface for supporting a footwear of a user, and at least one securing element for securing the footwear to the support surface. The multi-part roller skate is configurable as a modular roller skate with a removable pair of rear wheels, an interchangeable modular roller skate and ice skate, and an interchangeable modular roller skate and cross-country ski/snowshoe. In some embodiments, the multi-part roller skate can also be configured as a length-adjustable skate with a length adjustable skate body that includes separate front and rear foot support structures.

When an electric vehicle is traveling downhill, experiencing regenerative braking, or otherwise forcing the vehicle motor to turn faster than the commanded motor torque, the vehicle motor produces electrical energy that can be used to recharge a vehicle battery. However, if the vehicle battery is already nearly or fully charged, the excess electrical energy produced may damage the battery. Control systems described herein may reduce and/or dispose of the excess energy by manipulating the motor flux (i.e., direct) current and quadrature current independently.