Kickr Project Achieves Funding Through KickStarter Crowdfunding Platform
West Lafayette, Ind. (PRWEB) October 02, 2013 -- Kickr, a detachable, electric drivetrain system engineered to fit any size longboard or skateboard, has surpassed its crowdfunding goal of $15,000 and earned more than $20,000 through KickStarter, an online crowdsourcing platform. The project was introduced to the public on September 18, 2013 and achieved its necessary funding goal in just seven days, with three weeks still remaining in the donation window.
Kickr is the product of two Purdue University students, driven by their love of longboarding. Joe Carabetta, a nuclear engineering student, sought a way to electrify his longboard cheaply and reliably, allowing it to propel him forward without the need to kick off with his foot. Aided by Evan Merz, an electrical engineering student, the two collaborated to develop a marketable, integrated mounting solution.
Now in its fourth major stage of prototyping, Kickr has achieved resounding applause from the longboarding community for its ingenuity and innovation—all while remaining largely non-invasive to the longboarding lifestyle. By strapping the patent-pending Kickr to the bottom of a longboard or skateboard, users are able to take advantage of its automatic kicking system for more than six miles, reaching speeds of up to 20mph on just a two-hour charge time.
“Kickr is activated by stepping on a throttle pad, which is secured to the footing area of the board via a custom strap,” said Joe Carabetta, Co-Creator of Kickr. “The whole unit weighs less than five pounds and is precision-machined.” Evan Merz, Co-Creator, states that, “The goal for Kickr was to introduce an effective electric drivetrain system that eliminated the need to kick, while still preserving the feel and responsiveness of custom boards.” Joe continues, “We believe we’ve accomplished this and I’m excited to see it take shape. We have received some amazing feedback from the KickStarter community and are thrilled to share the possibilities of our product with others.”
Through the funds generated by KickStarter backers, Carabetta and Merz plan to make final adjustments to Kickr in order to bring it to market. Comprehensive testing of a small set of battery alternatives will commence, product design will be finalized, late-stage testing will be undertaken and after cumulative beta testing, Kickr will begin production.
Taking less than a minute to install and being small/light enough to be easily carried in a backpack, Kickr stands to be an in-demand product for skateboarders and longboarders in all facets of life. College students will be able to easily glide around campus, city skaters will find their commute more easygoing and skaters new to the electric side of the sport will enjoy what could be the most practical and thrilling product yet.
To learn more about Kickr and its #NOKICKING campaign, please visit http://bit.ly/Nokicking.
To view the product’s KickStarter campaign or to back the project, please visit http://bit.ly/KickrKickstarter.
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Joe Carabetta, Kickr, http://www.nokicking.com/, 630-659-6547, [email protected]
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