Car manufacturer Lexus does not only make automobiles these days. It has been experimenting on other side projects; like the hoverboard it revealed in mid-July. The company has released a video of skateboarders trying to do tricks with the hoverboard, with some interesting results.
The Lexus hoverboard relies on superconductors to levitate off magnetic surfaces. It’s similar to how high speed maglev trains work, and the technology has technically been around for decades. Of course, this is the first time that it has been shrunk down to the size of a skateboard.
There is a noticeable amount of mist and smoke coming out of the Lexus hoverboard, and this is due to the liquid nitrogen cooling system. Superconductors get extremely hot while keeping the hoverboard in the air, and it adds an extra layer of coolness of the entire product.
Sadly, due to the similarities with maglev technology, the hoverboard is only capable of floating on top of magnetic surfaces. The skate park in the video was specially built to work with the hoverboard, and is actually a wooden frame with a layer of metal over it to keep the hoverboard floating.
The saddest part is the fact that Lexus is not planning on selling the hoverboard at any time. Fortunately, Hendo is building a similar hoverboard for sale to the public; but that is still far in the future.
[Source: Engadget]
