Meet IO Hawk, the self-balancing lovechild of the skateboard and Segway

By Brandon Widder Published May 23, 2016

Whether you like it or not, public transportation is undergoing a transformation. At CES 2015, that transformation comes in the form of electric bicycles, skateboards, scooters — and in the case of the unconventional IO Hawk — one device designed to effortlessly glide with the unparalleled whimsy of a Segway. Joke material rarely come as easy.

The self-balancing board shares its name with the company behind the device. It measures 24.65 inches long and weighs a mere 22 pounds, while touting a modest speed of up to 6 mph. It lacks handlebars and any sort of steering contraption, its moves based instead on subtle pressure from your feet and body.

Brandon Widder/Digital Trends

The battery-powered Hawk responds accordingly as you shift you balance about the board, rolling forward and backward as you lean in your desired direction. Moving is remarkably easy, with most spectators on the show floor taking to the device with the ease of riding a bike after wobbling for a second or two.

The IO Hawk only grants you about an inch of clearance at best, but it can tackle slight inclines and lasts 10 to 12 miles on a single three-hour charge. It’s also equipped with a set of lights on the rear as a safety precaution, which is a bright idea considering just how silent the device is as it coasts from place to place. Now, let’s just hope it doesn’t go the way of the Segway.

The IO Hawk is currently available for pre-order in three basic colors (red, white, and black), with a starting price of $1,800.

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

Brandon Widder is a multimedia journalist and a staff writer for Digital Trends where he covers technology news, how-to…

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