Lexus Travels Back To The Future With Working Maglev Hoverboard Concept
Lexus is playing into the hearts and minds of every thirty-something who remembers watching Marty McFly make a fool out of Biff Tannen on his hoverboard in the second Back to the Future flick. Released in 1989, it was the second of three Back to the Future movies, and for the past 26 years, we've been waiting for the real thing. Has Lexus finally done it?
We've seen hoverboard projects before, like the Hendo Hoverboard that raised over half a million dollars on Kickstarter. Existing solutions use powerful magnets and scientific workarounds to keep users slightly above ground, but the heavier the object that's levitating, the stronger and and colder those magnets need to be.
Lexus isn't talking much about its solution, save for a teaser video that shows it's Slide hoverboard about an inch or so off the ground while steam comes out of the sides. That's the liquid nitrogen at play, which Lexus uses to cool superconductors. Combined with permanent magnets, Lexus hints that it's developed a real life hoverboard. What's interesting about the video and stills is that they show the Slide in action at what appears to be a concrete skate park rather than a special surface designed to interact with the magnets.
"The Lexus Hoverboard uses magnetic levitation to achieve amazing frictionless movement. Liquid nitrogen cooled superconductors and permanent magnets combine to allow Lexus to create the impossible," Lexus states on Slide's website.
Function aside, the styling consists of a natural bamboo plank sitting atop materials found in the luxury car brand. Lexus finished things off with its iconic logo imprinted on the top. And that's really all we have for now. Lexus promises to release more pictures and videos on a weekly basis.
We've seen hoverboard projects before, like the Hendo Hoverboard that raised over half a million dollars on Kickstarter. Existing solutions use powerful magnets and scientific workarounds to keep users slightly above ground, but the heavier the object that's levitating, the stronger and and colder those magnets need to be.
Lexus isn't talking much about its solution, save for a teaser video that shows it's Slide hoverboard about an inch or so off the ground while steam comes out of the sides. That's the liquid nitrogen at play, which Lexus uses to cool superconductors. Combined with permanent magnets, Lexus hints that it's developed a real life hoverboard. What's interesting about the video and stills is that they show the Slide in action at what appears to be a concrete skate park rather than a special surface designed to interact with the magnets.
"The Lexus Hoverboard uses magnetic levitation to achieve amazing frictionless movement. Liquid nitrogen cooled superconductors and permanent magnets combine to allow Lexus to create the impossible," Lexus states on Slide's website.
Function aside, the styling consists of a natural bamboo plank sitting atop materials found in the luxury car brand. Lexus finished things off with its iconic logo imprinted on the top. And that's really all we have for now. Lexus promises to release more pictures and videos on a weekly basis.
