UPDATE: 01/01/2024 – Floatwheel website has been moved to floatwheels.ru are currently down. Join their Discord.
Floatwheel is a China-based company that sold essentially a DIY Kit to build a Pint-style Onewheel. Mario Contino popularized the DIY kit in a video series he worked on. There he reviews the Floatwheel kit and its contributions to the VESC project. Floatwheel operates on VESC software which has continued to rise in popularity due to the lack of ability to repair a Onewheel that is out of warranty. There’s arguments on both sides regarding benefits of locking down components of consumer products however at the end of the day, VESC builds are growing due to riders wanting the ability to modify and repair their own equipment.
Move over DIY kits because now Floatwheel has now released a complete board that rivals the Onewheel GT however they are not able to accept USD due to ongoing copyright infringement cases within the United States. The Floatwheel site does allow for transaction in cryptocurrency so buy at your own risk.
Floatwheel and Copyright Infringement
According to an ongoing copyright infringement case, Future Motion is after John Doe (d.b.a. Floatwheel) for infringing on their intellectual property. We’re unable to find conclusive evidence to indicate this is the rationale for why floatwheel.com does not accept payment in USD, CAD, GPB or alike however this is likely the case.
Its evident from their DIY kit that elements were ‘inspired’ by a Onewheel Pint. That obviousness doesn’t elude when it comes to their new flagship Adv and Adv Pro models. The rails on the Adv Pro obviously take inspiration from Tech Rails whereas the Adv take from MOB shop’s Mustache Rails. These boards do look like an Ali-baba version of a custom GT build. Jabs aside however, the specs on their new board really opens the sport up to VESC builds so can we overlook the aesthetics and consider the internals?
Floatwheel Adv and Adv Pro Models
The Adv and Adv Pro are the current competition to the Onewheel GT as more riders have gained interest in VESC boards. The interest in VESC is largely attributed to the right to repair concerns with Future Motion. Floatwheel Adv and Adv Pro run on VESC software and come equipped with hardware that allegedly out-performs a Onewheel GT. The main questions and concerns for many prospective buyers focus on the quality of the components. Floatwheel doesn’t have anywhere near the vetted time on the field as a Future Motion Onewheel however based on their DIY kits, they don’t appear to be high quality. Will these parts be reliable? We will have to wait and see as only time will tell.
Much of the Adv and Adv Pro appear to take much “inspiration” from products out in the market currently. The trussed rail design on the Adv pro pays homage to Tech Rails signature pattern whereas the Adv has a similar angled rail to that of a Mustache or WTF rail. The Adv series appears to be a beefier platform similar to the Onewheel GT. Currently it is reported heavier than the Onewheel GT however no specific weight has been provided.
Lets review some of the key features to this new board that possibly could be a Onewheel GT killer:
Cannoncore Motor vs Hypercore Motor Made By Future Motion
According to the Floatwheel release video, the Cannoncore compared to Future Motion’s Hypercore motor, the stator volume is 53% larger at 115 x 90mm (Onewheel GT is 105 x 70mm). Floatwheel states that the design is “larger in diameter, longer in length creating a magnetic flux that is stronger than ever before”. They have also designed the axles in a cannon shape for better rail contact and heat dissipation. According to Floatwheel, the Cannoncore has also filled in the airgaps within the motor with FerroFluid (Ferrotec STG) making the rotor a massive heat sink. The axle contact has a larger diameter to provide for a better connection and cooling that extends to the rails.
In their release video, they claim the Cannoncore over the Hypercore is 1.71 times more powerful, offers 5 times the cooling capacity and has a peak output of 9HP. They also did the complete motor build on a 6″ hub allowing for standard go-kart tires. Future Motion had ditched 6″ hubs when they made the GT. Going with the 6.5″ hub that the GT offers only allows for their tires and any new comers coming into the space as it is a sizing they have created.
An important feature to consider is that the Cannoncore vs the Hypercore regarding cooling is huge. Due to the axle design of the Cannoncore, the connection allows for a better connection to the rails offering as a good heatsink for the board in comparison to the Onewheel GT. The GT has overheating issues for heavier riders due to the fact that the Hypercore cannot cool as efficient due to the rails having a coating and due to the axle diameter.
Motor Controller & BMS Within the Adv Series
According to Floatwheel, their motor controller will have standoffs allowing for it to be stacked alongside their light module controller. Floatwheel states this controller will be able to deliver 200 amps of power at 84 volts. This controller comes with an audible over-speed buzzer, bluetooth and Apple watch connectivity. The benefits of stacking provides spaces within the controller box for the added batteries that they have extended to go into the controller box (see the battery section below).
The BMS has “82mA balancing current up to 10 groups at the same time and a current sensing amplifier to strictly monitor the current. It shuts the power output should any accident causing the output to short out.”
Light Bars and Status Footpad Indicator
Head and tail lights (lightbars) are reported to offer 1600 lumens of light. This is compared to the 500 lumens on a Onewheel GT. These lights are also dimmable like the Onewheel GT and also change color when changing direction.
The footpad status indicator is near identical to Pint and GT lines. Within their promotional video, it does appear that this status indicator is larger however its functionality is similar in regards to footpad engagement indication, battery levels, etc.
Rails available for the Adv and Adv Pro
All Adv rails are machined billet aluminum. Adv Pro comes with a 3 degree tilt and 5 settings for ride height. The standard Adv has a similar 3 degree tilt with no slotted height option.
| Features | Onewheel GT | Adv / Adv Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Adjustable Height | No | Yes |
| Material | Aluminum | Billet Aluminum |
| Profile | Straight Rail | Angled Rail |
| Design | Sleek | Sleek on Adv / Truss deign on Adv Pro |
Many riders have voiced their overheating concerns with the Onewheel GT. They suspect that its due to the coating on the GT rails and it being a barrier for the axle to make good contact extending the cooling into the rails. Floatwheel claims to have remedied the problem by having no coating on the rails. Their Cannoncore Motor also has an extended operating temperature range of -20° to 60° C on the Adv and -40° to 60° on the Adv Pro.
Footpad Comparison of Adv to Onewheel GT
Both Adv models come with dual concave footpads similar to that of the Onewheel GT. The footpad concavity according to their video is a more subdued version of the Onewheel GT concave pads. Looking at the comparison image below, it does appear that the grip tape on the Adv line and Onewheel GT are relatively similar. Both appear to be heavier (chunkier) grit over the XR line.
Tire Availability and Sizing
The huge advantage of the Adv and the Adv Pro is that both models run a 6″ hub. This reintroduces the go-kart tire market that Future Motion had left when launching the Onewheel GT. With Future Motion going to a 6.5″ tire size, the tire availability is limited to newcomers coming into the 6.5″ diameter tire space.
By having the 6″ hub, all prior tires available to the Onewheel XR will be available without having to convert your GT into a GTR or GTXR. As of now the Floatwheel.com order does not provide the options for treaded or slick however in their marketing photos, both a custom treaded tire (marketed as a Forza+ 11″ x 6.5″ – 6″) and a Vega slick are photographed in the images. The treaded option appears to be very subtle.
There likely will be more affordable tire options with the 6″ sizing. Neither tire on the Adv boards appear exciting however tires that have been collecting dust from XR sales declining will likely once again see some sales traction.
Battery Size on the Floatwheel Adv Compared to Onewheel GT
Floatwheel has innovated here in that they see the limited battery space under the rear footpad. While most of their batteries are within the rear footpad, they have added 6 cells in the front for more capacity and better weight distribution. With 34 cells in the rear, they are packing a total 40 in their board without making it any larger than the XR footprint. Their staggered battery layout provides for a tighter fit as well.
Critics of the Floatwheel battery layout say that while the staggering of the batteries may save on height, there may be a heat issue. Time will tell if this will be the case however it is a very interesting approach to allocate some of the batteries under the front footpad for better weight distribution.
Floatwheel Adv Pro, Adv and Onewheel GT Specs Side by Side Comparison
| Specs | Floatwheel Adv Pro | Floatwheel Adv | Onewheel GT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery | 20S2P P42A | 20S2P 2170LA | 18S2P 21700 |
| Range | up to 36 miles | up to 34 miles | up to 32 miles |
| Headlight | 760LM | 760LM | 500LM |
| Motor | 6hp Cannoncore | 6hp Cannoncore | 3hp Hypercore |
| Right to Repair | Open Source | Open Source | Not Supported |
| Fast Charge | 84V 10A 840w | 84V 10A 840w | 75.6V 5A 378w |
| Operating Temperatures | -40°C to 60°C | -40°C to 60°C | Not Specified |
| Price | $1799 | $1599 | $2200 |
Conclusion
Riders that believe you own a product and you have the right to repair that product on your own have been left with a bad taste in their mouth with Future Motion. Future Motion limits the right to repair by essentially locking down the components of the board (pairing, warranty stickers, etc). Floatwheel models are completely open source so riders have concerns no more.
Further, if the quality of build is somewhat reliable then the Floatwheel Adv and Floatwheel Adv Pro will change the game for the Onewheel community. VESC builders may not choose to go with a complete build but the fact that there’s another controller, BMS, motor, battery etc. that have been brought to the space, its one more option for parts and sourcing. For the Future Motion boards that are out of warranty, I foresee many of them being retrofitted with Floatwheel components. Sure, Fungineers are already in the space and their contributions have been incredible to the non-FM board movement. Floatwheel has also parts in the past, but this is industry-breaking specs they are bringing to the table. You can be assured for the price point of $1599 to $1799, many riders want to give these specs a rip this upcoming season. Float on!
F.A.Q.’s
According to Floatwheel, ADV stand for ‘Adventure’.
Yes. Floatwheels are VESC-wheels.
As of early 2023, we simply do not know. With the imminent release of the ADV line, initial data should be acquired from riders worldwide. We will have a better understanding of the Floatwheel later in the year.
Speaking from the specs, bigger battery, bigger motor, wider operating temperature range, more versatile platform (uses 6″ tires, VESC).
No. Technically the Floatwheel isn’t even a Onewheel. Onewheel is a trademark term owned by Future Motion. While it does have one wheel, it is really a self-balancing electric board. See the differences between hoverboards and one wheels.
84 volts
The advertised range from Adv to Adv Pro is 32 to 36 miles (51.5 to 58 km). Test have been done online to validate that the Floatwheel is around these values under typical riding conditions.
Spec-wise it does outperform the Onewheel GT however there are other electric skateboards that outperform the Floatwheel. If you are looking to purchase the best electric board for off-road use, the GT is a great choice.
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