How To Build A DIY Electric Skateboard

There are plenty of pre-built electric skateboards out there, but skateboarding is about expression. How your board looks is part of that. To ride a setup that represents you, DIY is the way to go. You don’t skate like anyone else out there, so your board shouldn’t look like it either.

If you’re like us, you also might like to experiment often. Buying a pre-built electric skateboard can quickly turn into five more if you fall in love with riding and want to try different setups. But when you DIY your board, you can switch things up much easier with one kit.

There are a couple ways to DIY an electric skateboard. Depending on your style or desire to commit to a project, one type might call out to you more than the other.

Build From Scratch

If you’re a tinkerer with some knowledge or desire to learn about electronics, there’s nothing like the sense of accomplishment that comes from a large build like this.

There are plenty of YouTube tutorials and electric skateboard DIY plans available across the internet and a massive community of other builders across forums like Reddit for support.

Be aware that building from scratch can require soldering, programming, 3D printing and above all—time. When you account for research and shipping for parts, letting paint coats dry and getting your board in working order, a project like this could take at least a week or more. Depending on who you are, that can be a pro or a con. Here are a few more:

Pros:

• Complete control to choose all components
• Ability to build a rig with serious power

Cons:

• Research, learning, trial and error
• Longer setup time before being able to ride
• Repairs and maintenance
• Can easily turn into a money pit
• No warranty

Try Some Tinkering

There is some middle ground if you want to be able to see under the hood, mess with wires and get more hands-on with your build while still feeling like you can stick to an instruction manual of sorts.

There are plenty of hobby DIY electric skateboard kits out there that come with all the parts you need. You get the security of knowing all the parts are meant to play well together, however assembling all of the pieces of the puzzle is still up to you. 

With some patience and concentration, a DIY kit like this can take you around 1-3 hours or more.

Pros:

• Hands-on project
• No need to research and find your own parts

Cons:

• Troubleshooting
• Assembly time
• Maintenance
• Rarely covered under warranty

The 5-Minute DIY

A quick and easy solution to wanting to customize an electric skateboard is to get a pre-built bolt-on kit. All you need is a deck. Then you can mount the kit to get a DIY electric skateboard in about 5 minutes.

A direct drive system like the Revel Kit is as easy as installing a pair of trucks while still being able to customize the most recognizable parts of a skateboard: the deck and wheels.

Pros:

• Get riding quicker
• All research, selection and assembly of performance and parts has been done for you
• Low-maintenance
• Warranty included with option to extend

Cons:

• Not a very large project
• Not made to be taken apart

Frequently Asked Questions About DIYing An Electric Skateboard

Can you make a normal skateboard electric?

Yes. Any regular skateboard or longboard deck can be turned electric. How you want to go about electrifying it is up to you. With an easy conversion kit like the Revel Kit, you can turn almost any deck into an electric skateboard in about five minutes with the ability to customize your wheels and more. If you’re looking for more customization than that, you could build an electric skateboard from scratch. 

What parts do you need to build an electric skateboard?

For a quick DIY, all you need is a deck and the Revel Kit. The box comes with all you need like trucks, wheels, charger, battery, remote and more.

If you’re building from scratch, the list gets a bit longer. Here’s an example electric skateboard parts list for a typical dual belt-drive street board:

• Deck
• Motors
• Battery
• ESC (Electronic Speed Controller)
• Enclosure(s) for Battery and ESC
• Remote control
• Trucks
• Wheels
• Bearings
• Pulleys and Belts
• Motor Mounting Plates
• Mounting Bolts
• Riser Pads
• Battery Meter
• Connectors
• Seal Material 
• Roll of conduit

Is it easy to make an electric skateboard?

If you use an electric skateboard kit to DIY an electric skateboard, it can be as easy as turning a screwdriver to attach an electric system to any board and get riding in about 5 minutes. 

Building an electric skateboard from scratch is a little more difficult process but can be very rewarding. 

How long does it take to DIY an electric skateboard?

Depending on your build and the time on your hands, it could either take 5 minutes or much longer. For a full DIY, take into account the time it takes for wiring, soldering and programming, even painting or customizing the deck itself.

The Revel DIY Electric Skateboard Kit

If you want your board to be on the road instead of on a workbench (or in parts on your living room floor), the Revel Kit could be your easiest and most reliable DIY electric skateboard option. There are unlimited ways to customize it by mixing and matching wheels, trucks, bushings, decks and more. (For inspiration, check out some of our customers' builds.)

And if you feel the creative urge to customize a board, you're sure to feel it again. Avoid sinking time and money into building eskates over and over again. When you want to switch up your setup and style, it should be almost as easy as changing your shoes. With the Revel Kit, it is. 

Ready to start your first DIY setup?