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Defiant One

All hail the Capybara! It’s only been a few months since electric skateboard brand Defiant Board Society introduced the Defiant: One. I recently got my hands on one to see this beauty of a board up close and give it a spin. Despite its best efforts to knock me off, I was able to eventually carve this electric skateboard around town and had a blast doing so. Here are my thoughts.

Table of contents

Defiant Board Society wants to recruit you

Defiant’s name is an excellent summation of its entire ethos. It is more than just another eskate company, but a social club that describes itself as “inclusively rebellious.” I love that. Here’s a blurb from its website to give you an idea of what this group is all about:

Across the board, we stand for human rights. We’re not afraid to have an opinion. If that doesn’t sit well with some people, that means we’re doing something right. Although we’re against-the-grain, we have a supportive ethos for our community. We’re always seeking to build people up, create an approachable atmosphere, and help people do what makes them happy.

Defiant makes people happy by delivering electric skateboards designed to give experienced riders a rush back to their youth, where consequences (and blatant risk of injury if you’re me) are overshadowed by the sheer thrill of skating fast and living faster.

Long before the company even delivered its first board – the Defiant: One – this past February, it was working behind the scenes to ensure it delivered a flagship product curated and tested using the highest quality parts available.

Behold! The Defiant: One.

  • Defiant One
  • Defiant One

The Defiant: One sets new rebellious tone in design, function

We’ve covered plenty of electric skateboards on Electrek, many of which have impressed us and are worth a ride. While the segment continues to grow, a community of riders has begun to blossom. However, this world is still missing a tremendous element, in my opinion – culture.

I grew up pretending like I could kickflip on traditional skateboards, donning my favorite Spitfire or Zero tee while brandishing a subtle middle finger to every imaginary defiance my teen angst could drum up. Man, those were the days. Skating is just as much a state of mind and style as it is kicking, pushing, falling, and in the electric world, cruising… fast.

The Capybara logo with a safety pin through its ear (so punk) and thick chain strengthen a company name that already says it all – Defiant. The Defiant: One brings a fresh and welcomed rebelliousness to the world of electric skateboards that has previously skitched parallel to traditional skate culture but has rarely crossed over.

Although there are a few kinks to work out, this brand is off to an awesome start.

40 miles of range and speeds up to 38 mph? Sign me up

I talk a big game, but I admittedly did not get the Defiant: One all the way up to 38 mph, but I got close! My helmet is in storage as I’m in the process of a move, so I had to gear it back a little bit to ensure I stayed alive for my next skate review. You’re welcome.

As I said before, the Defiant team is no stranger to skateboards, and it did its homework when designing the One. After you get past the unique center logo and the beautiful deep cherry stain on this ten-ply maple deck, the next thing you’ll probably notice is its massive motors.

To reach such high speeds, the Defiant: One is propelled by two 6396 4,550-watt motors, which are powered by a 930Wh Molicel P42A battery pack – designed in a modular accordion style to flex along with the deck.

Moving along the side, you’ll notice the board’s big shiny, white wheels (which didn’t stay that way for long – trust me!). These are 100mm 76a duro urethane wheels, chosen by the team to deliver a smooth and grippy ride on any street.

Where the rear of the Defiant: One shines in pure power, the nose stands out in innovation. Defiant Board Society has implemented a “digital dashboard” at the front that offers real-time ride data such as speed, remaining range, plus odometers for a given trip and the lifetime stats of the board.

This was easily the coolest feature on an overall unique board, but it could use some fine-tuning. More on that below. Before that, here are some more specific specs of the Defiant: One:

  • 2 x Large 6396 4550-watt motors
  • 930 Wh Molicel battery pack
  • 100mm 76a duro urethane wheels
  • Hoyt St Puck remote control
  • Genuine RipTide bushings (87a board side, 84a roadside)
  • Adjustable trucks can be set to 50-, 43-, and 36-degree angles
  • Three different ride modes of varying speeds
  • Top speed: 38+ mph (depending on height and weight of rider)
  • Range: 40+ miles (depending on height and weight of rider)

The One is defiant in both look and speed – can you tame it?

Defiant Board Society describes the One as a skateboard designed by seasoned riders for seasoned riders, and that couldn’t be more apparent. If the nearly 40 mph top speed wasn’t a dead giveaway, this is not a beginner-level board.

It is built in the USA with materials of the utmost quality from what I could tell, but every chance it got to knock me off, it tried and often succeeded… at least at first. As you’ll see if my full video review below, the sheer flexibility of the board took some getting used to, and I found the trucks (although great for carving) far too loose for my ride style. I had to tighten those bad boys up to stop them from wobbling at speeds above 15 mph.

The duro urethane wheels are stickier than they are smooth, gripping the road around each corner and wide carving sessions. However, they don’t absorb as well as some other wheels I’ve ridden, especially on all-terrain boards. Still, I felt zero vibration and never even got close to that uncomfortable sensation like my feet were falling asleep.

When I first saw the puck remote control, I was intrigued because I’m used to longer, more slender remotes, but I learned to love how the puck fit in my hand, although it was a bit trickier to switch ride modes.

The board’s brakes were really good… too good, actually. As you’ll see below, my first couple of attempts to stop in front of the camera sent me lunging forward, with the board suddenly taking off in reverse behind me. This is due to a unique feature Defiant Board Society added called “Smart Reverse.”

After you apply the brake trigger and the board comes to a halt, it will transition into reverse if you hold it long enough. Defiant says the feature is great for backing up out of a crosswalk or stopping on a hill, but I’m used to stopping and staying there, so there was a brief learning curve. Cool feature, though.

Defiant One

The digital dashboard is a truly unique piece of tech on an electric skateboard, but I found it a lot more useful when stopped and especially in the shade. Riding in the sun, I couldn’t really see the screen, and honestly, I wasn’t really looking at it as much as I thought I would. I was just enjoying the smooth, curvy ride it delivered.

I hit a couple of bugs with the display as well. When I first booted it up, it said my speed was 62 mph, and I didn’t even have the motors engaged. Later on, after riding outside for a while, I got red and blue police lights blinking at me on the screen, saying, “VESC fault: OVER CURRENT.” I think it had something to do with the speed controller, but it didn’t affect the ride of the board as far as I could tell, just the display.

This review process was a bit of a rollercoaster of emotions with the Defiant: One. When I unboxed it, I thought it was the most beautiful electric skateboard I had ever seen, but then I rode it for the first time and could not stop wobbling and fearing for my life. I tightened up the trucks, steeled myself, and learned to truly enjoy the smooth, quick ride this board can deliver.

If you’re a first-time rider, I would not recommend the Defiant: One. If you’ve been riding for a while and are perhaps looking for a second or possibly a third board to replace your old ones, this one is definitely worth a look. Like all boards, it really depends on your local terrain and how you intend to use it.

The 40-mile range is awesome as a commuter board, but your route better be smooth as you won’t be cutting through any dirt or grass. This is a street board for sure, and it’s designed and priced as such.

Pricing, discounts, and our video review

As a top-tier model built in the US with power and craftsmanship in mind, the Defiant: One is priced a tad higher than other boards, but you pay a premium for its beauty and function.

It starts at a price of $2,999, but you can use Promo Code SCOOTER100 for $100 off your Defiant One order or click the following link.

Now onto the video review. Watch me whip, wobble, and win below.

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Save $500 on RadRover 6 Plus e-bike for $1,099, Rachio 3 smart sprinkler controller hits $99, and more

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1 hour ago

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April 25, 2024

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Save 0 on RadRover 6 Plus e-bike for ,099, Rachio 3 smart sprinkler controller hits , and more

rad power bikes

We have have a truly summer-inspired lineup of Green Deals today, headlined by Rad Power’s latest flash sale that is taking up to $500 off four e-bike models, with the RadRover 6 Plus e-bike falling to a new $1,099 low. It is joined by the reappearance of the Rachio 3 3rd Generation Smart 4-Zone Sprinkler Controller that we haven’t seen discounted in a while, now at $99, as well as an even rarer 1-day sale on Anker’s EverFrost Dual-Zone Portable Cooler 50 for $619. Plus all of the other days’ Green Deals that are still going.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Save $500 on Rad Power’s RadRover 6 Plus High-Step Fat-Tire e-bike at new $1,099 low

Rad Powers has launched a flash sale through April 29 that is taking up to $500 off four of the brand’s popular e-bike models. The biggest discount is on the RadRover 6 Plus High-Step Fat-Tire e-bike for $1,099 shipped. Usually fetching $1,599 since the company lowered prices across its lineup of models, this e-bike has already seen two flash sales bring costs down to their former lowest points of $1,199, with today’s deal coming in as a 31% markdown off the new going rate that lands at a new all-time low. You can learn more about the RadRover 6 Plus by heading below the fold or checking out our hands-on review.

Equipped with a 750W brushless geared hub motor and a semi-integrated 672Wh battery, the RadRover 6 Plus e-bike is able to reach top speeds of 20 MPH and travels with a range of up to 45 miles on a single charge. It offers a variety of features like the 5-level pedal assist with a 12-magnet cadence sensor, and a full digital display that relays real-time information such as battery level, clock, odometer, speedometer, pedal assist settings, and even a wattage meter to keep track of the motor’s output. It also comes stocked with a pair of 26-inch by 4-inch puncture-resistant fat tires alongside water-resistant connectors and wiring harness for when your joy ride diverts off-road. The frame has been designed for maximum ergonomic comfort and solid handling – especially for riders at the bottom end of the height recommendation range.

Rachio 3 Smart 4-Zone Sprinkler Controller hits $99

Amazon is offering the Rachio 3 Smart 4-Zone Sprinkler Controller for $99 shipped. Down from its $150 price tag, we’ve only seen one previous discount since the new year began, a drop to the new $100 low that beat out Black Friday’s low by less than one dollar. Today’s deal comes in as a repeat of this trend, amounting to a 34% markdown off the going rate, beating our previous mention and etching out a new all-time low all within $1 of the last one in January. With this device you’ll be able to customize your sprinkler or irrigation system’s watering schedule to the specific needs of your yard and plants. Not only will your yard and gardens be vibrant and beautiful, but your water costs will shrink too. It features exclusive weather recognition technology that is programmed to automatically skip unnecessary watering during and after inclement weather, with functions like rain skip, wind skip, freeze skip, and more. It comes ready to use out of the box, with no extra charges or app subscription fees, and you’ll be able to manage everything from the convenience of your phone through the easy-to-use app.

There are a few variations of the above deal for those with larger yards or extra needs. You can increase your coverage with the 8-Zone Sprinkler Controller for $159, down from $230. There is also a 16-Zone Controller that is available for $199, down from $300. And if you want added protection for the controller boxes, there are Waterproof Outdoor Enclosures available for $33 too, down from $40. While the above sprinkler controllers do offer you simple smart controls over your sprinkler and irrigation systems, if you want to take it a step further and have complete control over your water supply as it comes from your spigot, you’ll need to pair any of them alongside the Smart Hose Timer for $78, down from $100.

Anker’s EverFrost Dual-Zone Portable Cooler 50 sees rare discount to $619

Today only, Best Buy is offering the Anker EverFrost Dual-Zone Portable Cooler 50 for $619 shipped. Normally fetching $949, this cooler has seen far fewer discounts since the new year began, with only two previous short-term discounts at Best Buy bringing costs down the lowest, first to $699 in February and again to the $600 low in March. Today’s deal comes in as a 35% markdown off the going rate, giving you $330 in savings on the biggest model in the EverFrost lineup and landing it at the second-lowest price we have tracked – just $19 above the all-time low. You can learn more about this device by heading below or checking our hands-on review from last summer.

The Anker EverFrost cooler requires no ice to keep your food and beverages nice and crisp, able to hold a 39-degree Fahrenheit temperature for up to 27 hours with its 299Wh battery. You’ll even notice that it only takes 30 minutes for it to cool from 77 degrees to 32 degrees. Alongside the 53L capacity for the cooler, which is divided into dual spaces for cooling and freezing, it also sports four different options to recharge the battery: solar (100W solar input), wall outlet, car socket, and through the 60W USB-C port. It’s been designed with two 6-inch wheels as well as an EasyTow handle for more effortless portability, and also includes an extendable table, a built-in bottle opener, and remote control of its settings via the Anker app. Head below to read more.

Spring e-bike deals!

Hover-1 multi-color Instinct e-bike standing on concrete with NYC skyline in background within post for RadRover 6 Plus e-bike

Other new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.

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XPeng at Beijing Auto Show: 2K pure vision ADAS, neural network, 1km/sec fast charging, and a new AI-driven EV sub-brand [Video]

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April 25, 2024

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XPeng at Beijing Auto Show: 2K pure vision ADAS, neural network, 1km/sec fast charging, and a new AI-driven EV sub-brand [Video]

XPeng Motors kept things relatively short but sweet during its 20-minute presentation at the 2024 Beijing International Auto Show earlier today, but there’s a lot to get excited about following several updates from XPeng founder, chairman, and CEO He Xiaopeng, including an “entirely new breed” of EVs under a new sub-brand. Here’s the full recap.

Today’s presentation in front of a crowd in Beijing (you can view it in its entirety below) started off simply recapping much of the same news we reported on in 2024, some of it dating back to the Chinese automaker’s annual Tech Day in October 2023.

XPeng CEO He Xiaopeng spoke in front of an X9 multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), a growing segment of luxury minivans in China. Xiaopeng highlighted much of the early success of XPeng’s first MPV model, which is versatile in that it can be configured to seat seven passengers or four, with room to transport five bikes.

As a popular BEV model amongst Chinese celebrities and athletes, XPeng’s CEO used the X9 as the vessel to highlight some of the advanced technologies it has been working on, including expansions of its XNGP ADAS technology, including new AI Valet and bodyguard functions. The automaker’s founder and chairman spoke to these technologies and what they mean for the future of EVs:

We are proud to demonstrate XPeng’s technological innovation prowess, through which we are laying a pathway to greater inclusion and equality in smart mobility. The next decade will be a ‘golden decade’ of smart vehicles. The core of smart vehicle advances is how to operate with automative software adoption emerging as the new industry norm. Looking ahead, XPeng will roll out the on-road testing of AI-powered functions integrated into XPeng models.

  • XPeng Beijing
    The XPeng X9 MPV / Source: XPeng Motors
  • Room for five full-size bikes
  • XPeng Beijing
    Details of XPlanner powered by neural networks
  • XPeng CEO He Xiaopeng explains the automakers new ADAS strategy using 2K Pure Vision Sensors

To support XNGP and other ADAS functions, XPeng used the Beijing Auto Show to share plans to deploy what it calls the “industry’s first mass-produced 2K pure visual neural network large model in vehicles.” This news confirms previous rumors we reported that XPeng was abandoning LiDAR sensors in favor of pure vision, similar to Tesla FSD.

These upgrades to perception and planning/control models will utilize over two million high-definition grids to reconstruct worlds around XPeng BEVs, ensuring that any and all surrounding objects and obstacles are identified quickly and effectively. The new technology is further supported by neural-network-based planning models, which can learn, think, and perform actions like the human mind.

According to the Beijing press conference, such neural technologies enable XPeng to deliver more human-like, self-learning vehicles that will rely heavily on AI moving forward. That includes the automaker’s latest operating system, XOS 5.1.0, which delivers several new AI-powered features to debut in the X9 before reaching other eligible XPeng EVs on May 20, 2024.

Those updates include the previously mentioned AI Valet Driver, upgraded surround reality (SR) perception capabilities, ask expanded function and learning capabilities of the automaker’s in-car AI assistant. We recommend checking out the video below for a real-world view of this technology being demonstrated.

  • XPeng Beijing
  • XPeng Beijing

XPeng’s new sub-brand will be called MONA

Last month, we shared news that XPeng had plans for a new EV sub-brand that focused heavily on artificial intelligence, as mentioned above, and well beyond. During the recent China Electric Vehicle 100 Summit, XPeng Chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng vowed to invest RMB 3.5 billion (~$492M) in the automaker’s “AI-enabled smart driving” technology in 2024 for R&D and the hiring of 4,000 new employees.

Xiaopeng also said the next decade of EVs will be one of intelligence and smart driving technology. As such, the new brand was in the works to deliver AI-centric tech at an affordable price for all, targeting MSRPs around RMB 100,000-150,000 ($14,000-$21,000).

At the time, we reported the unnamed sub-brand would launch in China soon as XPeng promised it will “create a new breed of AI-powered Smart EVs for young customers worldwide.” Today in Beijing, XPeng confirmed the new sub-brand is called MONA, which stands for “Made Of New AI.”

The company’s CEO said MONA will officially be introduced this June, so stay tuned for more details on that.

Last but not least, XPeng shared updates in regard to its charging technology, low-altitude flying car arm AeroHT, and its recent cooperation agreement signed with Volkswagen Group. On the charging side of things, XPeng says it is planning to upgrade its 800 kW DC fast chargers in Q3 2024, enabling what could potentially be the best charge speeds in the industry.

The automaker says the upgrades to the facilities will enable XPeng EVs to add more than 1 km (.62 miles) per second. AeroHT’s flying car was on display next to other XPeng EVs in Beijing after turning plenty of heads at CES in January. The eVTOL arm’s other vehicle, the modular flying car, is still seeking airworthiness certification and is expected to begin pre-sales in China in Q4 2024.

That’s all for now. As promised, here is the full XPeng press conference from the Beijing Auto Show, translated to English:

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Toyota preps new large electric SUV, is this the Highlander EV we’ve been waiting for?

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2 hours ago

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April 25, 2024

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Toyota preps new large electric SUV, is this the Highlander EV we've been waiting for?

Toyota-Highlander-EV

Another fully electric large Toyota SUV is on its way. Toyota announced it’s preparing its three-row electric SUV as part of a new $1.4 billion investment in Indiana. Is this the electric Toyota Highlander EV we’ve been waiting for?

A new large Toyota electric SUV is coming to the US

Since 2021, Toyota has invested 18.6 billion in its US operations. The new $1.4 billion will go toward its Princeton facility as it prepares to assemble its first three-row electric SUV.

Toyota has invested $8 billion in Indiana so far. The new funding will create an additional 340 new jobs. The Indiana plant employs over 7,500 workers who assemble the Toyota Sienna, Highlander, Grand Highlander, and Lexus TX.

Toyota revealed it would launch a new three-row electric SUV in the US last May as part of ten new EVs set to roll out globally.

However, that electric SUV will be built at its Kentucky plant, set for production next year. A spokesperson clarified (via Automotive News) that this new three-row electric SUV will be a separate, larger model.

Toyota-Highlander-EV
Toyota three-row electric SUV concept (Source: Toyota)

Is it the Toyota Highlander EV?

Earlier this month, David Christ, the GM of Toyota’s US division, told CarBuzz, “You’re going to see more BEVs from us in the future.”

According to Christ, this will include a fully electric Toyota Highlander three-row EV. Holland confirmed it will be a “chassis-based” vehicle rather than a skateboard-based EV platform.

Toyota said the new investment will also add a battery pack assembly line for lithium-ion batteries. The batteries will be supplied from its new EV battery plant in North Carolina, slated to go online in 2025.

Toyota-highlander-EV
Toyota Land Cruiser Se EV concept (Source: Toyota)

The Japanese automaker sold over 32,000 Highlanders and 25,136 Grand Highlanders in the US during the first three months of 2024.

Meanwhile, Toyota has only sold 1,897 bZ4X models, its sole EV in the US through March. The news comes after Toyota announced an additional $1.3 billion investment in its KY plant in February.

Toyota is also considering an electric Tacoma and Tundra but is watching demand for rivals like the Ford F-150 Lightning and Rivian R1T.

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