Lexus has been teasing us about its hoverboard for weeks, but it’s finally here.
The luxury carmaker has shown off its sci-fi skateboard being ridden around a skatepark in a new video that would make Marty McFly swoon.
It’s worth noting that Lexus didn’t actually build the hoverboard itself, as revealed by The Verge.
Instead, Lexus’ advertising agency conscripted a team of scientists working on maglev technology in Germany.
They shifted their focus to hoverboards, and spent months working on the space age tech until it was good enough to debut in advertisements.
But how does it actually work? The hoverboard is crammed full of superconductors that interact with a magnetic track to create a “hover” effect.
These superconductors are cooled to -180 degrees Celcius using liquid nitrogen – that explains the weird mist that trails the board.
According to reports, the board can only hover for 20 minutes, after which the liquid nitrogen runs out and the board loses its superconductivity. Right...
Unfortunately, what this this also means that you can’t ride the hoverboard anywhere but on a specially designed track.
Apparently the skatepark in the video is actually made out of wood painted to look like cement.
Underneath are designated tracks covered with plaster to conceal it – they’re the only places the hoverboard can ride.
Were you impressed by the Lexus Hoverboard, or is it another disappointing attempt at sci-fi technology? Let us know in the comments.
The luxury carmaker has shown off its sci-fi skateboard being ridden around a skatepark in a new video that would make Marty McFly swoon.
It’s worth noting that Lexus didn’t actually build the hoverboard itself, as revealed by The Verge.
Instead, Lexus’ advertising agency conscripted a team of scientists working on maglev technology in Germany.
They shifted their focus to hoverboards, and spent months working on the space age tech until it was good enough to debut in advertisements.
But how does it actually work? The hoverboard is crammed full of superconductors that interact with a magnetic track to create a “hover” effect.
These superconductors are cooled to -180 degrees Celcius using liquid nitrogen – that explains the weird mist that trails the board.
According to reports, the board can only hover for 20 minutes, after which the liquid nitrogen runs out and the board loses its superconductivity. Right...
Unfortunately, what this this also means that you can’t ride the hoverboard anywhere but on a specially designed track.
Apparently the skatepark in the video is actually made out of wood painted to look like cement.
Underneath are designated tracks covered with plaster to conceal it – they’re the only places the hoverboard can ride.
Were you impressed by the Lexus Hoverboard, or is it another disappointing attempt at sci-fi technology? Let us know in the comments.
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