Evolve’s high-powered skateboards blur the line between toy and commuter vehicle.
“This board is irresponsibly overpowered,” I said, 5 minutes into my first test experience with the Evolve Hadean Carbon All Terrain electric skateboard.
Born on Australia’s Gold Coast, Evolve co-founder Jeff Anning was looking for a way to re-create the feeling of snowboarding — without snow. The lifelong surfer was enraptured by the feeling of an endless carving session and set about finding a way to create an endless carving machine.
And he pulled it off in spades. Launched in summer, the Hadean Carbon All Terrain promised effortless speed across pavement, grass, gravel, and whatever else skateboarders have dreamt of surfing across.
In short: While it’s built primarily for off-road recreational use, the Evolve Hadean Carbon All Terrain is fun and reliable enough to turn your daily commute into playtime (not to mention that it makes your commute faster).
Evolve Hadean Carbon All Terrain Review
Powered by two 3,000W motors on the back wheels, the Evolve Hadean Carbon All Terrain skateboard boasts a top speed of 26 mph (faster than a Onewheel and Class 1-2 e-bikes) and can power up the steepest hills you can find charge.
The motors are remarkably responsive; it’ll take riders from a stopped position to top speed in a matter of seconds on flat terrain.
The custom-built 43.2V battery gets a full charge in 3-4 hours, and it will last for about 25 miles per full charge. It’s designed primarily for off-road use, as the burly 7-inch all-terrain tires indicate. But the extra oomph is useful for navigating low curbs and buckled sidewalks as well.
The forged carbon fiber deck cuts weight and is tough enough to handle the inevitable crash (more on that later). And in total, the entire package weighs about 30 pounds, with a capacity to hold riders up to 265 pounds in weight.
Riders control the board with a durable, premium-feeling remote, called the Phaze. It’s secured by a wrist strap and has an LCD screen, throttle and brake triggers, plus buttons to switch speed modes and customize the visibility lights on the board.
Oh yeah, the lights. The Hadean has colored LED lights that increase visibility and act as indicators. They fluctuate within a spectrum of colors, indicating braking, low battery, and more. In addition, they just look cool.
The lights, combined with the feel of the board and remote (not to mention the performance), give the overall package a premium feel. This is handy because, with a price tag of $2,899, it’s useful to know that money was put to good use.
Don’t worry beginners, there’s a safety setting that will max out the speed at about 6 mph. When you get comfortable with the board, you can adjust the settings to create four different speed modes.
All these stats are impressive, but really, the proof is in the ride. So I powered my demo board and hopped on.
Scary Start: Evolve Hadean Electric Skateboard Testing

The Need for Speed
