Engineering student's hobby yields electric-powered skateboard

An American student has turned his hobby into something new, an electric drive train that turns almost any skateboard into a speedy magic carpet-like ride.

Joe Carabetta, a nuclear engineering student at Purdue University, wanted a kick-free ride on his favorite board and designed his "Kickr" that can be easily and quickly strapped on and off almost any skateboard, the university said in a release Tuesday.

A pressure-sensitive sensor on the board's surface allows the rider to control the motorized board without the usual hand control cables, Carabetta said.

"The first time I stepped on this board it far exceeded my every expectation," he said. "It's like flying without wings."

A skateboard with the Kickr strapped on can reach speeds of 20 mph and has a range of 7 miles.

Carabetta has been seeking crowd-sourced investment and is already taking customer orders, the Purdue release said.