LaGrange L1 electric skateboards are designed to be powered by a single brushless outrunner electric motor. These motors are typically used for large scale model airplanes but they work great for electric skateboards because they have high torque and low rotational speed. The motor is not included in the DIY kit and must be purchased separately from a hobby store. This article describes what to look for and consider when selecting a motor to power your electric skateboard.

 (Note: Hyperlinks are supplied as references and are not affiliated with the author or RRBS.)

 

Requirements:

 The motor you select must have:

1)      8mm shaft diameter

2)      44mm bolt spacing (sometimes called 32mm). See figure 1 for motor mount dimensions.

 

The motor you select should fit the following requirements:

 1)      Be of high quality

 2)     Recomended maximum of 63mm in diameter. Again, see figure 1 for motor mount dimensions. (Note: A motor’s dimensions are often listed in its model number. For example, a "6354" motor like this one is 63mm in diameter and has 54mm long body)

 3)      KV value in the 200 to 300 range.

 

Other considerations:

1)     Motors come with different types of wires (also known as motor leads) that plug into your ESC. Some motors have wires that are bendable like a noodle while others have rigid wires that hold their shape when bent. The flexible wires are ideal because the stiff wires tend to break after enough fatigue. If your motor has stiff leads, consider soldering flexible wire extensions onto the ends of the motor leads as seen in this photo.

2)     Speaking of motor leads, keep in mind that you will likely have to solder plugs (electrical connectors) onto your leads to match the plugs of your ESC. Be sure to order some plugs for the motor leads if your ESC does not include them. If you are inexperienced in soldering, go to a hobby shop and have a technician solder these on for you.

 3)    Look for motors with large high-quality main bearings – also check to see if you can get replacement bearing sets so you can rebuild your motor if the bearings wear out.

 4)    Bigger IS better - The bigger motors tend to have larger main bearings, and thus they tend to be considerably more durable. And since you can adjust your power and top speed with your ESC, a bigger motor is a good choice so you can tune it down as a beginner and have room to grow as your skills improve. Negatives include higher cost and heavier weight.

 

Recommendations:

(Note: RRBS and the author have no affiliation with these brands or vendors. These motors are shown as examples.)

There are lots of choices out there, but in general, I recommend a 6364 size outrunner at 245kv like this one. This motor powers a LaGrange skateboard to 26 MPH (using a 20 cell NiMH battery and 74mm wheels).

I also like this 6354 motor. It is very quiet and at 260kv it is slightly faster than the 6364 but has less torque for climbing the big hills.

I personally use the SK3 series from Turnigy. Any one of these motors in the 200-300KV range should work. (Note to skaters in the USA: Be sure to buy the motors when they’re available in the US warehouse so you can avoid the international shipping costs)

 

Additionally, here are some other motors that I’d like to try:

 Turnigy G160 Brushless Outrunner 290kv (160 Glow) (USA Warehouse)

 Great Planes Electrifly RimFire 1.60 63-62-250 Brushless Outrunner Motor (250kV)

 E-flite Power 160 Brushless Outrunner Motor (245kV)

 

I hope this helps you in designing your electric skateboard. Feel free to ask questions and comment below.

 

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