![Base Camp Ghost electric skateboard review: This deck is scary fast and fun to ride [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/Ghost-Skateboard-Review-Dino.jpg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Base Camp Ghost electric skateboard review: This deck is scary fast and fun to ride [Video]
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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Credit where credit is due: in a massive, 32-car multinational independent test, Tesla’s Autopilot ADAS came out on top, the new affordable Tesla turns out to be a corner-cutting Model Y, and one of the company’s original founders compares the Cybertruck to a dumpster. All this and more on today’s episode of Quick Charge!
Today’s episode is brought to you by Retrospec – the makers of sleek, powerful e-bikes and outdoor gear built for everyday adventure! To that end, we’ve got a pair of Retrospec e-bike reviews followed up by a super cute, super affordable new EV from China with nearly 150 miles of range for less than $5,000 USD.
PLUS: listeners can get an extra 10% off by using code ELECTREK10 at retrospec.com!
Source Links
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Tesla is again teasing the new Roadster, which is now five years late, as “the last driver’s car” before self-driving takes over.
The chicken or the egg. Is Tesla delaying the Roadster to match the development of self-driving technology, or is it delaying the development of self-driving technology to match the delayed release of the Roadster?
The prototype for the next-generation Tesla Roadster was first unveiled in 2017, and it was initially scheduled to enter production in 2020; however, it has been delayed every year since then.
It was supposed to achieve a range of 620 miles (1,000 km) and accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 1.9 seconds.
It has become a sort of running joke, and there are doubts that it will ever come to market despite Tesla’s promise of dozens of free new Roadsters to Tesla owners who participated in its referral program years ago.
Tesla used the promise of free Roadsters to help generate billions of dollars worth of sales, which Tesla owners delivered; however, the automaker never delivered on its part of the agreement.
Furthermore, many people placed deposits ranging from $50,000 to $250,000 to reserve the vehicle, which was initially scheduled to hit the market five years ago.
When unveiling the vehicle, CEO Elon Musk described it as a “halo car” that would deliver a “smack down” to gasoline vehicles.
That was almost eight years ago, and many electric hypercars have since launched and delivered this smackdown.
Tesla has partly blamed the delays on improving the next-gen Roadsters and added features like the “SpaceX package,” which is supposed to include cold air thrusters to enable the vehicle to fly – Musk has hinted.
Many people don’t believe any of it, as Tesla has said that it would launch the new Roadster every year for the last 5 years and never did.
Now, Lars Moravy, Tesla’s head of vehicle engineering, made a rare new comment about the next-generation Roadster during an interview at the X Takeover event, an annual gathering of Elon Musk cultists, last weekend.
He referred to Tesla’s next-gen Roadster as the “last best driver’s car” and said that the automaker did “some cool demos” for Musk last week:
We spent a lot of time in the last few years rethinking what we did, and why we did it, and what would make an awesome and exciting last best driver’s car. We’ve been making it better and better, and it is even a little bit more than a car. We showed Elon some cool demos last week and tech we’ve been working on, and he got a little excited.
The timing matches Musk’s recent claim that Tesla is going to have ‘the most epic demo ever, ’ but we heard that one before.
We suspected that the comment might be about the Tesla Roadster, as the CEO made the exact same comment about Roadster demos in 2019 and 2024. You will not be shocked to hear that these demos never happen.
Electrek’s Take
The “last best driver’s car” before computers are going to drive us everywhere. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy if you continue to delay the car. It might literally be the last car ever made that way. How would we ever know?
The truth is that the Roadster was cool when it was unveiled in 2017, but that was a long time ago. Tesla would need to update the car quite a bit to make it cool in 2025, and I don’t know that cold air clusters are it. You will have extreme limitations using those.
The Roadster is almost entirely in the “put up or shut up” category for me at Tesla. They need to stop talking about it and make it happen; otherwise, I can’t believe a word.
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The PV5 is already available in several markets, but will Kia launch it in the US? After Kia’s electric van was spotted testing in the US again, a US debut could be in the works.
Is Kia’s electric van coming to the US?
Kia launched the PV5, the first dedicated electric van from its new Platform Beyond vehicle (PBV) business, in South Korea and Europe earlier this year, promising it will roll out in “other global markets” in 2026.
Will that include the US? Earlier this year, Kia’s electric van was caught charging at a station in Indiana. Photos and a video sent to Electrek by Alex Nguyen confirmed it was, in fact, the PV5.
Kia has yet to say if it will sell the PV5 in the US, likely due to the Trump Administration’s new auto tariffs. All electric vans, or PBVs, including the PV5, will be built at Kia’s Hwaseong plant in South Korea, which means they will face a stiff 25% tariff as imports.
Following another sighting, a US debut cannot be ruled out. The PV5 Passenger model was spotted by Automotive Validation Engineer Chris Higa (@Chrisediting) while testing in Arizona.
There’s no denying that’s Kia’s electric van, but it doesn’t necessarily confirm it will launch in the US. But it could make sense.
Despite record first-half sales in the US, Kia’s EV sales have fallen significantly. Sales of the EV9 and EV6 are nearly 50% less than in the first half of 2024.
To be fair, part of it is due to the new model year changeover, but Kia is also doubling down on the US market by boosting local production. Earlier this year, Kia said the EV6 and EV9 are now in full-scale production at its West Point, GA, facility.
The PV5 Passenger (shown above) is available in Europe with two battery pack options: 51.5 kWh or 71.2 kWh, rated with WLTP ranges of 179 miles and 249 miles, respectively. The Cargo variant has the same battery options but offers a WLTP range of either 181 miles or 247 miles.
During its PV5 Tech Day event last week, Kia revealed plans for seven PV5 body types, including an Open Bed (similar to a pickup), a Light Camper, and even a luxury “Prime” passenger model.
Kia is set to begin deliveries of the PV5 Passenger and Cargo Long variants in South Korea next month, followed by Europe and other global markets, starting in Q4 2025. As for a US launch, we will have to wait for the official word from Kia.
Do you want Kia to bring its electric van to the US? Drop us a comment below and let us know your thoughts.
Source: Chris Higa, TheKoreanCarBlog
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