A self-propelled skateboard with at least one front wheel, a rear wheel, and a board, that is propelled without the rider's foot touching the ground. A driving force is generated the rider's weight is continuously shifted up and down in synchrony with the rocking motion of the eccentrically mounted rear wheel, which causes the board to be repeatedly pushed down and bounced back. Mounting multiple axles and one-way sprag clutch bearings on the rear wheel allows the rider to propel the board up inclined surfaces and to stop his/her motion and rest on the board, yet keep the skateboard continuously running.

Various powered personal mobility vehicles are disclosed. In some embodiments, the vehicle can include a deck having a forward portion, a rearward portion, and a neck portion. A front swivel wheel assembly and a rear swivel wheel assembly can be connected with the deck. In some embodiments, the front swivel wheel assembly comprises a motor.

A self-propelled skateboard with at least one front wheel, a rear wheel, and a board, that is propelled without the rider's foot touching the ground. A driving force is generated the rider's weight is continuously shifted up and down in synchrony with the rocking motion of the eccentrically mounted rear wheel, which causes the board to be repeatedly pushed down and bounced back. Mounting multiple axles and one-way sprag clutch bearings on the rear wheel allows the rider to propel the board up inclined surfaces and to stop his/her motion and rest on the board, yet keep the skateboard continuously running.

A self-stabilizing, one-wheeled electric skateboard may include improved features. In some examples, the vehicle includes a status indicator viewable through a slot formed in an upper surface of the board. In some examples, the vehicle includes a convertible carrying handle transitionable between stowed and deployed positions. In some examples, the vehicle includes an interchangeable fender and fender substitute that may be removably coupled to an upper surface of the board. In some examples, a motor controller of the vehicle may operate a field-oriented control (FOC) scheme configured to control the electric motor by manipulating a direct current aligned with a rotating rotor flux angle and a quadrature current defined at ninety degrees from the rotating rotor flux angle. In some examples, the motor controller may be configured to permit intuitive dismounting of the vehicle by tilting and/or moving the vehicle backward.

In an aspect, an electrical vehicle for traveling in a forward direction has two wheels on opposing side of a platform without a steering column. A motor and a battery are adapted to drive one wheel and controlled via a fold-out foot control. The steering wheel is controlled via a fold-out foot control. Both the driving wheel and the steering can also be controlled remotely by radio, smartphone app or the like. The two fold-out foot controls are integrated into the general shape of the platform when not in use. The vehicle is equipped with lateral balancing means and connected to a network, which enables it to be driven autonomously.

A self-balancing vehicle includes a vehicle body having a housing with a top cover and a bottom cover. It includes a unitary support bar disposed between the top and bottom covers, about which the top and bottom covers are mounted, and which extends entirely along the top and bottom covers between opposed left and right ends of the unitary support bar. The vehicle further includes a left drive wheel and an opposed right drive wheel, each indirectly coupled to the unitary support bar.

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 method, system and apparatus for carrying a user including a board for supporting the user, a plurality of ground-contacting members coupled with the board, a motorized drive assembly coupled with the ground-contacting members and one or more sensors coupled with the drive assembly. In operation, the drive assembly adjusts the velocity of the ground-contacting member based on one or more distances of the board from a surface below the board as detected by the sensors.

In an aspect, a tire for use with a single wheel, self-balancing vehicle is provided. The tire has a tire body with a tread configured for engagement with a ground surface. The tread has a lateral profile having a central region, a first lateral region tapering towards a first lateral side of the tire, and a second lateral region tapering towards a second lateral side of the tire. The lateral profile is substantially free of discontinuity. The tread has a non-directional tread groove arrangement that is asymmetrical about a central circumference line of the tire. The tire has a hardness selected to substantially prevent deformation of the first profile and the second profile during riding by a rider.

An electric vehicle includes a carrier, a free-wheel unit, a foot-wheel unit, a driving unit, a first angle-detecting unit and a micro processing unit. The carrier is for supporting a user. The free-wheel unit is disposed at one end of the carrier. The foot-wheel unit is disposed at the other end of the carrier. The driving unit is disposed at the free-wheel unit or the foot-wheel unit, and is for providing a power to the electric vehicle. The first angle-detecting unit is disposed at the free-wheel unit or the carrier, and is for detecting a swinging status between the free-wheel unit and the carrier so as to provide a swinging signal. The micro processing unit is signally connected to the driving unit and the first angle-detecting unit. When the swinging signal achieves a predetermined condition determined by the micro processing unit, the driving unit is turned on.