Belt drive electric skateboards are becoming more powerful, efficient, and affordable as technology and the sport progress. They are efficient, easy to set up, and easy to maintain. Therefore, belt-based drivetrains are the standard choice.
Why You Should Choose A Belt Drive Electric Skateboard?
The belt drive is the most traditional transmission system. It connects the wheels to the outer rotor motor through a belt and a gear pulley system. As a proven true driveline, it has been the driveline of choice for skateboard manufacturers and is a staple in the electric skateboard world. The 1951, Evolve and Metroboards are all based on belt drives.
You know, most DIY builders still use belt drives!
While belt drive enthusiasts usually swear by the belt drive system, many new skaters no longer use the belt drive due to noise problems, limited free rolling ability, and the need for regular maintenance.
The belt drive system limits free rolling because the pulleys add a lot of resistance, which makes kicking more difficult. Maintenance around the belt drive, such as belt replacement due to wear or tear, belt tensing and belt alignment can also scare off those who are not necessarily mechanically inclined.
The size of the tooth and the width of the belt are proportional to the amount of torque it can transmit. Basically, it boils down to the surface area of the belt meshing and the surface area of the pulley teeth. The greater the surface area, the greater the torque transferred.
Greater surface area = more traction between the belt and pulley
If you want to use a 3mm pitch belt you need a minimum 15mm width reasonable result. With acceleration and braking, most of the problems occur at braking because it takes more force to stop the momentum. Acceleration is more of a gradual decrease in load, while braking is a rapid increase in load.
The small teeth can't deliver the same torque as the big teeth, so the belt will slip. As the number of teeth increases, the diameter of the pulley increases, bringing it closer to hitting the ground, which is bad.
So basically, if the belt is underestimated by the expected load, it will rip to pieces. That said, there are still plenty of good reasons to be loyal to belt drives.
How Does A Belt Drive Electric Skateboard Work?
In general, a belt drive delivers better torque than a hub system at the same price. They also allow the use of full-length plate wheels instead of thin PU sleeve hub motors. This also allows for a wider selection of wheels to swap. In addition, some people like to be creative with their settings and belt drives, allowing the department to be more creative.
Belt-drives are made up of a motor that is mounted to a specially shaped bracket or motor mount, the motor and motor mount are attached to the board’s truck hangers, and attached to the motor is a small gear pulley that is secured to a larger pulley.
And depending on whether an electric skateboard is set up with a single motor or dual motor there will be either one or two of these assemblies attached to either one of the back wheels or both of them.
Usually, all these components are housed underneath a board’s deck in a belt cover that protects them from riding surface debris and water.
How To Choose Belt Drive Electric Skateboard?
As with any electric skateboard, take note of the board’s range and top speed to make sure they suit your riding preferences. If you can, it is also a good idea to look for a board that has different riding modes, it’s always nice to be able to change your acceleration and top speeds as you wish.
If you are new to the sport, a beginner mode is always nice to start with until you find your feet. And, if you are a commuter or long-distance rider, an eco mode may be a great riding option for you.
One last consideration that is especially important for belt drive systems, ensure that the belts and motor components are all tucked away neatly or covered by some sort of housing or belt cover. This will reduce the opportunity for road debris to become entrapped within the belt or pulleys of the board and subsequently reduce maintenance and downtime.
The Best Belt Drive Electric Skateboards — Yecoo GT3 Belt
This is not Yecoo's first attempt at a belt drive board - the Yecoo GT3 belt. Yecoo aims to build solid products, backed by first-class customer service, that make its products king.
For basic info, you can refer to the web page for detailed specs.
Yecoo GT3 all-terrain electric skateboard is a custom-designed skateboard based on the original GTS and GT. In addition to the appearance change, the battery and ESC have also been completely improved, and the belt with the new product shows its higher value. This makes you no doubt to the new Yecoo GT3 belt drive electric skateboard produced higher expectations.
Anyway, the advantages of the belt-driven GT3 are obvious:
- Automatic start function
- The remote has a great look and feel
- Accelerating steady and powerful
- The deck is flexible and super comfortable
- The truck, bushings and wheels are great
After a long ride on Yecoo's belt drive all-terrain electric skateboard, I believe it can still surprise you!
Conclusion
Belt drive boards have become more accessible, and affordable to everyone. There are many advantages to belt-driven boards. Higher torque and acceleration and the ability to climb hills are probably amongst my favorite qualities. But, the ability to change the wheels out with ease comes in a close second. Belt drive systems allow you to have the best of both worlds when it comes to street and off-road setups. If I’m feeling like riding urethane street wheels during the day and shredding some trails at night, some belt-driven boards will give me that option. They are fairly simple to maintain and are reliable and fun. I hope this article informed you and might help you in making the right choice in a belt drive electric skateboard! Keep riding, stay stoked, and be safe!
