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As we reach the pinnacle of the spooky season on Halloween today, I thought it would be appropriate to share my recent experience with the Ghost – a high performance electric skateboard from Base Camp, featuring some impressive in-house technology, and some of the fastest top speeds I’ve yet to come across. Here are my thoughts.

Base Camp was founded by two product design students while they were still in college. Although the company specializes in electric skateboards and scooters today, its roots were actually paved in surfing.

According to the company’s website, the customer’s love for its products is far more important than the pursuit of profits, hence why the company risked losing it all early on to ensure it delivered top notch products.

That decision appears to have paid off, as Base Camp now offers an expanding lineup of electrified mobility solutions and safety accessories. As you may recall, my first ride with Base Camp was on its flagship electric skateboard model – the F11 – a compact, affordable, and relatively tame ride.

Recently however, Base Camp sent me its encore – a new electric skateboard called the Ghost – and there is nothing tame about this one. Following two years of development, Base Camp is finally opening up Ghost orders, and I was one of the lucky first riders to take it for a spin.

Check out my full video below and be sure to use the promo code if you’re interested in a Ghost skateboard of your own… and you just might be soon, especially once you see its performance specs.

Performance specs of the Base Camp Ghost skateboard

As I mentioned before, the Ghost is a far cry from the aforementioned F11 electric skateboard, but in the best ways. Whereas the company’s first deck was an excellent tool to learn on, the Ghost is definitely for more experienced riders. That being said, it was not the most intimidating deck to ride, despite its name.

That was due in part to the deck’s unique concave design, which made it easier to grip and maneuver. The 90 mm 76A PU wheels are also improved, but don’t hold up as well on scaly concrete – much better for smooth surfaces to ensure top speed and limited vibrations. I’d be interested to get a set of honeycomb wheels on the Ghost and see how that goes.

Here are the full specs of the Ghost electric skateboard to give you an idea of its power:

  • Motors: 2 x 3,000W, Hobbywing 5255 175 KV, customized motors
  • Drive Mode: Belt drive
  • Deck: Premium T700 3K Carbon Fiber
  • Trucks: CNC 7075 Aluminum Alloy Precision Engraving
  • Batteries: 12S2P Battery Packs Made of Molicel P42A Cells
  • Battery Capacity: 8.4 Ah / 373 Watts
  • Top Speed: Up to 34 mph ( 55 kph)
  • Max Range: Up to 25 miles (40 km)
  • Incline Climb: Up to 40%
  • Board Weight: 19 lbs (8.6 kg)
  • Max Weight: 265 lbs (120 kg)
  • Charge Time: 3.5 hours
  • Dimensions: 31.1 x 9.5 inches (790×240 mm)
  • Controller: BASE CAMP Customized Dual Motor Drive, FOC Motor Commutation, Adjustable Acceleration Mode

Overall, it’s hard to deny the sheer power of the Ghost skateboard from Base Camp. The jolt when taking off is apparent, even on the lowest speed setting, but the concave design of the carbon fiber deck allows for easier balancing. The deck’s length between a traditional skateboard, and a longboard was perfect in my opinion. Plenty of room to stand, but way less leeway for wobble at such high speeds.

While I wouldn’t recommend this board for someone who hasn’t ridden an electric skateboard before, I do feel the Ghost has a smaller learning curve for a high-speed performance deck. As a result, I think its a wonderful for option for any familiar rider. It also simply looks cool as hell.

Video review, availability, and discount code

As promised, here is my detailed video review of the Ghost electric skateboard from Base Camp, complete with some ghost sightings and a little taste of this year’s halloween costume.

Interested in trying out the Ghost? Base Camp is now accepting orders for $1,299, but you can use promo code scooterelectrek for $150 off your purchase. Learn more here.

Happy Halloween!

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Subaru is jumping into the electric hot hatch craze

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Subaru is jumping into the electric hot hatch craze

Subaru is teasing a new electric hot hatch that will spearhead a new generation of STI. Is it the WRX STI we’ve been waiting for?

Subaru teases new electric hot hatch

In March 2022, fans were disappointed after Subaru announced plans to end production of the gas-powered WRX STI.

Subaru said the move was due to the shift toward electrification and stricter emissions regulations in places like Europe.

Although the Japanese automaker said at the time it was exploring opportunities for a next-gen WRX STI, including an electrified version, Subaru confirmed it will not be produced on the new WRX platform.

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It’s been over three and a half years, but we might finally see the WRX STI return in electric form. After teasing a new electric hot hatch on Wednesday, Subaru said the Performance-E STI concept will spearhead a new generation of vehicles.

The image offers a glimpse of Subaru’s new design with slim, three-line LED lights and a sportier roofline compared to the internal combustion engine (ICE) version that Subaru also previewed.

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Subaru teases new Performance-E STI concept ahead of the Japan Mobility Show (Source: Subaru)

Subaru is keeping most details secret for now, but said the new electric hot hatch offers “a design that evokes the brand’s heritage while providing a driver-friendly layout and a comfortable, spacious interior.” It will be equipped with new tech, offering “intuitive, exhilarating driving experiences,” the company said.

Subaru will unveil the new STI concepts at the Japan Mobility Show later this month. Atsushi Osaki, Subaru’s president, will deliver a press conference at the Subaru booth on October 29 at 12:30 PM (JST).

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Subaru teases two new STI concepts, an EV and an ICE version (Source: Subaru)

The booth will feature the two new STI models, alongside the Trailseeker, Subaru’s second global EV. It will also showcase more rugged Forester Wilderness and Outback Wilderness prototypes, as well as a 1982 Subaru GL Family Huckster.

Subaru is joining Hyundai, Volkswagen, Kia, and a few other automakers planning to introduce new electric hot hatches.

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Tesla is finally running TV ads, but they are not for its electric cars

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Tesla is finally running TV ads, but they are not for its electric cars

Tesla is finally running TV/streaming ads, but they are not to sell electric cars. They are to promote a vote for Tesla shareholders to approve Elon Musk’s next compensation package worth up to $1 trillion.

As a company, under Elon Musk’s leadership, Tesla has famously been against advertising. The CEO is even on the record saying that he “hates advertising” and that “other companies spend money on advertising and manipulating public opinion, Tesla focuses on the product.”

However, that was before he acquired Twitter, now X, which relies heavily on advertising.

After that, he started to push Tesla to do some advertising, but the company quickly stopped or greatly reduced its advertising efforts.

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Last month, we reported that Tesla’s advertising effort picked back up with ads to encourage Tesla shareholders to vote for Musk’s new unprecedented CEO compensation package worth up to $1 trillion.

The renewed advertising effort was limited to Google and social media ads or sponsored posts, which was also the case in Tesla’s previously mentioned advertising efforts.

Now, Tesla is even running TV-like ads on streaming services. Paramount+ watchers were surprised to see this ad running on the streaming service this week:

This is one of the very first TV-style video ads that Tesla is paying to air, but it is not to sell EVs.

While the automaker is struggling to sell its existing vehicles, the ad exclusively features future products that are not yet available for sale, and it serves only to ask shareholders to vote in accordance with the board’s recommendation at the upcoming shareholders’ meeting.

Electrek’s Take

It’s funny because I was talking to a friend of mine who came back on a long rural road trip with his Cybertruck last week.

He was saying that he was surprised how many people in rural areas not only didn’t know about the Cybertruck, but they didn’t even know much about Tesla. Yet, they were curious about it and electric vehicles in general.

We were discussing how these people are not as active on social media, and that Tesla would greatly benefit from advertising its vehicles in more traditional channels, such as TV/streaming ads, with clear messaging that relates to them, such as the cost of ownership and utility.

I joked that Tesla will do TV ads about Elon’s compensation plan before they do about their EVs. It literally took less than a week for Tesla to prove me right.

There is just no reasonable justification for this. It’s as simple as Elon is bigger than Tesla, a company of 100,000+ people.

You can’t make a viable argument against the fact that this would be money better spent advertising Tesla’s available cars when the company is currently operating its production lines at 60% capacity and the compensation package would be better spent on tens of thousands of full-time employees whose contribution to Tesla is much greater than Elon’s at this point.

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Toyota lands $20 million to bring this pint-sized EV with a solar roof to life

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Toyota lands  million to bring this pint-sized EV with a solar roof to life

Toyota’s smallest electric vehicle might actually hit the road. Thanks to new funding from the UK government, Toyota is one step closer to turning this pint-sized EV with a solar roof into a reality.

The Toyota FT-Me is a micro EV with a solar roof

It may be only 2.5 meters (98″) long, but Toyota believes the tiny electric car could be an affordable way to zip around the city.

The FT-Me is “a ground breaking concept” that blends premium design with affordability, Toyota said after unveiling it in March.

After securing a £15 million ($20 million) investment from the UK government’s DRIVE35 program, Toyota is moving closer to actually launching the pint-sized EV.

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The Advanced Propulsion Centre UK, which manages the funding, announced that the £30.3 million ($40,500) project includes a £15 million grant from the Department for Business and Trade. Toyota is expected to fund the other roughly £15 million.

Toyota is working with several partners, including urban delivery specialist ELM Mobility and the University of Derby, to develop a new lightweight battery electric vehicle (BEV) in the L6e category.

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Toyota FT-Me micro EV (Source: Toyota)

Meanwhile, Savcor will design and develop the solar roof, which Toyota claims can extend a vehicle’s range by 20%, or about 20 to 30 km per day.

The pint-sized EV will be manufactured at Toyota Manufacturing UK’s Burnaston site, where it currently builds the Corolla.

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Toyota FT-Me micro EV concept (Source: Toyota)

Although it’s about the size of a golf cart, Toyota promises the micro EV fits two passengers comfortably. The company also claims the FT-Me’s propulsion system uses 3X less energy per km than current high-capacity electric vehicles.

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The interior of the Toyota FT-Me EV concept (Source: Toyota)

Inspired by a jet helmet, Toyota said the vehicle’s compact design makes it perfect for getting around the city. It only takes up about half a parking spot.

Toyota’s pint-sized EV could arrive as a potential rival to the Citroen Ami. The Ami starts at £7,695 ($10,000) OTR, offering a WLTP range of up to 46 miles.

Would you buy Toyota’s micro EV for about $10,000? It could be a fun (and efficient) way to zip around town. It’s basically a futuristic electric golf cart with a solar roof. Unfortunately, it likely will never make it to the US with America’s growing love for big trucks and SUVs.

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