Zealot X review: The 30 mph electric skateboard with a surprisingly fun twist
The Backfire Zealot X electric skateboard isn’t just fast and powerful. In addition to both of those traits, it’s also got another fun trick up its sleeve that will have you getting noticed everywhere you go.
The performance is there, of course. It’s a blast to ride. But with the 360-degree surround LED lighting, the skateboard is somehow even more visible to car drivers at night compared to during the day.
You’ve got to check out what it’s like in my video review below, then keep reading for all of the other details, including the build quality and performance.
Backfire Zealot X video review
Backfire Zealot X tech specs
- Motors: Dual rear 1,500W 6358 belt drive motors (3,000W total)
- Battery: 14s 2p (504 Wh) battery
- Range: 34 miles (55 km)
- Top speed: 31 mph (50 km/h)
- Max hill climb gradient: Up to 35%
- Max load: 240 lb. (110 kg)
- Weight: 24.6 lb. (11.2 kg)
- Price: $1,199
How does it ride?
The Backfire Zealot X is a great board for anyone looking for a street ride that combines good speed and power in a fairly lightweight and affordable package. It’s not perfect, but it’s pretty darn good.
Let’s jump into the feel first.
With a pair of 1,500W motors, it’s much faster and more powerful than most people will need, yet still has the performance to keep seasoned skaters interested.
The higher voltage 14s battery is where that extra speed and power is really coming from. It also uses larger Samsung cells to create a higher capacity pack than a lot of other boards in this price class. Cruising at reasonable speeds can definitely net you a solid 20 miles (32 km) of range, and relaxed speeds can push the range closer to 30 miles (51 km).
But of course it’s the higher-speed riding that will be the board’s claim to fame. I can get up to nearly 30 mph (51 km/h) on it, though I tend to feel better in the mid 20s of mph.
Part of that is because the board is just stiffer than I expected. It’s made of several layers of maple, glass fiber, and ABS plastic, and I have no doubt that it’s rugged. But that also means it doesn’t have the same give to it as a purely laminated maple or bamboo board. At top speed, that translates into feeling more road vibration.
Interestingly, the deck is also fairly flat. It has a slight concavity, but it’s pretty gentle. I would have preferred a bit more of a cupped shape to give me a better feel of the edges of the board, especially when carving. It’s not really an issue, I can ride the board just fine and it’s comfortable, but a slightly more concave deck would have been even better. And let’s get real, I’m not going 45 degrees into the turns either, so it works just fine for me.
What about the remote?
The Backfire Zealot X remote is functionally similar to many pistol-grip electric skateboard remotes out there, but I like the way Backfire molds it slightly differently.
It’s also got some great features built in, like a fingerprint unlock for security. It’s unlikely it will be used as an anti-theft device (just keep your board with you and don’t lock it up outside like a bike), but it would work that way too, just in case. In reality, it’s probably better used as a way to prevent people from messing with your board. Those pesky roommates can’t ride your board if they can’t turn it on.
I also like the one-button wake feature. You can turn on your board directly from the remote, no need to bend over and find another button on the board!
Quite a light show!
Now let’s talk about the light show, which is where this board really shines… literally.
There’s a blue LED light strip wrapped around the entirety of the deck. It’s illuminated from the hand remote and you can turn it on and off at any time.
It’s hard to explain just how cool this looks without seeing it in person, but hopefully the GIF below gives you a sense of the effect. It’s like you’re skating around on a cloud of blue light. There’s 100% no way anyone can ever claim they didn’t see you.
When it comes to safety and night time visibility, this is so much better than any LED dot lights on the front or rear of the board. I usually recommend helmet lights or other LED lights mounted up high when riding electric skateboards since deck lights are mounted so low, but these deck lights are visible enough that they could serve as your only lighting in a pinch.
Is it worth it?
At $1,199, the Backfire Zealot X isn’t the most affordable board out there. Backfire has done a good job though at splitting the difference between super-low-cost electric skateboard companies and the higher-end, more premium models. It’s truly a great Goldilocks option for a middle-of-the-road board.
It’s fast enough for 90% of riders, it’s powerful enough to handle steep hills, and it’s so visible that it wins extra points from me there. The inclusion of larger 120mm wheels is a nice option to be able to ride higher and on more varied terrain, or just not get shaken around as much by sidewalk cracks.
For $1,199, I feel like this board is quite fairly priced for what you’re getting. Budget shoppers may want to pass this one up for a board with less battery capacity and fewer features to find a lower price. But if you can swing the twelve hundred bucks, I think you’ll be very happy with the Backfire Zealot X.
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Burlingame, California-based Peak Energy just scored a huge win for sodium-ion batteries. The company announced a multi-year deal with utility-scale battery storage developer Jupiter Power to supply up to 4.75 GWh of sodium-ion battery systems between 2027 and 2030.
Under the agreement, Peak will deliver 720 MWh of storage in 2027 – the largest single sodium-ion battery deployment announced so far. The deal also includes an option for an additional 4 GWh of capacity through 2030, bringing the total contract value to more than $500 million.
Sodium-ion vs. lithium-ion
Peak Energy says its sodium-ion batteries degrade less over time and have lower operations and maintenance costs than lithium-ion systems. Because the batteries don’t degrade as quickly, operators don’t need to add more capacity later in a project’s life to maintain performance. They also use a fully passive cooling system that eliminates pumps, fans, and other components used in lithium-ion setups, reducing maintenance and safety risks.
The company claims its grid-scale sodium-ion system uses up to 97% less auxiliary power, offers about 30% better cell degradation performance over 20 years, and comes with a lower total cost of ownership.
Why this deal matters
The agreement marks a significant step forward for the emerging sodium-ion sector, which has been gaining momentum as a safer and lower-cost alternative to lithium-ion for long-duration and grid-scale energy storage. It also underscores the growing effort to build a domestic sodium-ion battery supply chain in the US.
“From day one, we’ve believed sodium-ion will be the winning technology for grid-scale storage, which is essential to meet rising demand from hyperscalers and AI,” said Landon Mossburg, Peak Energy’s CEO and cofounder. “Deploying the world’s largest sodium-ion energy storage system with one of the nation’s top independent power producers proves that sodium is ready for today and will dominate the future.”
Mike Geier, CTO at Jupiter Power, said the company is “excited to support domestic battery energy storage manufacturing as we continue to increase the deployment of firm, dispatchable energy when and where it’s most needed,” and called Peak’s approach to sodium-ion “a potential game changer for the industry.”
Read more: The US’s first grid-scale sodium-ion battery is now online
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![The new 2026 Lexus ES is an upgrade in just about every way [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/11/new-2026-Lexus-ES-EV.jpeg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Lexus claims the new ES “takes sedan styling, luxury, and refinement to a higher level” with a complete redesign. With the 2026 ES arriving soon, Lexus offered a closer look at the upgrades inside and out.
The new 2026 Lexus ES debuts in EV and hybrid forms
The eighth-gen ES is bringing more than a sharp new style. Lexus overhauled its flagship sedan from the ground up for the 2026 model year, which will include battery electric (BEV) and hybrid (HEV) powertrain options.
Inspired by the radical LF-ZC show car, the 2026 ES has been fully redesigned with what Lexus calls the “Experience Elegance and Electrified Sedan” concept, aimed at further refining the driving experience.
The new design centers on a redesigned “spindle body” that extends from the hood to the bumper. It also features a redesigned grille, replacing the signature Lexus spindle grille as the brand looks for a new identity in the electric era.
Inside, the new 2026 ES features the latest version of the Lexus Interface multimedia system. The setup includes a 14″ touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 12.3″ driver display cluster.
Based on the redesigned TNGA GA-K platform, the new ES will be available in battery electric (BEV) and hybrid (HEV) powertrains for the first time.
The 2026 Lexus ES lineup consists of two models: the ES 350e, a front-wheel-drive (FWD) model, and the ES 500e, an all-wheel-drive (AWD) model.
Lexus expects the ES 350e to have a driving range of 300 miles when fitted with 19″ wheels, while the ES 500e has an estimated driving range of 250 miles.
Both the ES 350e and 500e feature a built-in NACS port to recharge at Tesla Superchargers. Using DC fast charging, it can recharge from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes under “ideal conditions,” according to Lexus.
With its debut just around the corner, Lexus offered a closer look at the new 2026 ES inside and out in a new video.
Lexus has yet to announce prices, but the redesigned ES is expected to start at about $45,000 to $50,000, or slightly more than the outgoing model.
After launching the upgraded RZ earlier this month, Lexus said the ES would be next. It’s expected to go on sale in Spring 2026.
What do you think of the redesigned 2026 ES? Do you like the new Lexus design? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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Tesla has launched a new version of the Model Y in China, and it’s achieving an impressive new range rating – thanks to a new battery cell from South Korea’s LG.
The new variant, a five-seat, rear-wheel drive long-range model, has been released with an 821-km range based on China’s CLTC standard.
While the CLTC rating is known to be optimistic, 821 km (about 510 miles) is an impressive number and the longest range Tesla has offered in its Model Y lineup to date, which is going to help it be more competitive in the Chinese market.
This new extended range Model Y version is made possible by using the 78.4-kWh ternary lithium-ion battery pack from LG Energy Solution, the same pack found in the also recently launched 830-km range Model 3 variant.
The new long-range RWD Model Y starts at RMB 288,500, which translates to just over $40,500 USD.
The launch comes at a critical time for Tesla in China, which has seen its sales slump in recent months. The automaker recorded its lowest monthly sales in October since November 2022, falling out of the top 10 list for new energy vehicle (NEV) sales.
That’s despite a continued surge in electric vehicle sales in China. Tesla is not benefiting from it amid strong competition.
According to local Chinese media reports, the new 821-km Model Y is already gaining traction with some anecdotal reports of enthusiasm at Tesla stores.
The reports are partly supported by Tesla quickly extending delivery timelines from 2-4 weeks to 4-6 weeks just hours after launch.
Electrek’s Take
I think this is going to be suitable for a decent short-term bump in demand, but it’s still on the expensive side for the Chinese market.
For example, now the Model Y beats the Xpeng G6’s max range of 755 km, but the G6 with this range costs 234,900 RMB (approximately $32,900 USD), which is significantly cheaper.
Every 10,000 RMB tranche lower means a lot more demand in China.
Tesla needs to launch its new “standard” versions to start making a difference with demand long term in China.
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