Hi Josh,
I ride an electric skateboard to work everyday (approx 1km, i know , i know why don't you just walk you lazy %@%@^$) and although being compact isn't a priority for me i may be able to offer some points for your consideration.
A 'long board' will require significant rigidity longitudinally in order to support the rider + backpack e.t.c but also must flex along the same plane.
The challenge you may face here is;
In order to fold the board you will almost certainly compromise the above.
The battery, in order to perform the way you have described and also be practical in terms of battery life will take up the entire usable space between the trucks, this means
a folding connection between two banks of batteries, a possible weak point?
The skateboard i am using is made entirely of carbon fibre, it has a 10ah battery and a 300 watt motor with a wireless controller.
This set up with my 90 kg and a backpack full of work stuff will run for the 2 km round trip for 10 days without recharging, no hills.
Im sure it will go even longer but thats as far as I've pushed it so far.
It cruises at approx 30 km/h and in high mode up to 45 km/h
Once at work i simply put two straps around the trucks and carry it on my back like a normal backpack.
If you could somehow incorporate the backpack into the board it may negate the need to fold it?
In terms of demand for your idea, the mainstream commute is driving people crazy in every capital city in australia, the demand might not be for a particular product such as yours but for the need to get from a to b practically and efficiently with a smile on your face!
I would easily commute up to 10 km each way on my board if there were no obvious hazards (freeways/humungus hills)
I say go for it, how much would you pay to be happy BEFORE you start work on a ****ty winter day?
