Thanks to science fiction novels and movies like Back to the Future Part II, hoverboards have long been a symbol for some distant and unknowable future. However, according to Wired, “for all the anguish and anticipation around making hoverboards real, they have existed for some time.” The question is no longer, “Can this exist?” but instead, “Will most people be able to access it?” It is still unclear whether hoverboards will ever become widely accessible or commonplace, but it’s possible. In fact, Lexus has been working on their own version of a hoverboard called SLIDE since 2015. The sleek-looking board is made with a mix of bamboo and carbon fiber material that emits smoke as it levitates an inch or two off the ground.  So, how does it work? That is where the use of magnets and magnetic levitation (maglev) come into play.

Technological Innovation

The hoverboard is made with an insulated core that contains high-temperature superconducting blocks stored in cryostats of liquid nitrogen. These blocks cool the superconductors to -197 degrees Celsius. The board is then placed above a track containing permanent magnets, such as neodymium magnets. By the time the board cools to its operating temperature, the track’s magnetic flux lines are pinned into place, which maintains the hover height of the board.  Compared to past technology, like the Hendo hoverboard, which relies on four disc-shaped hover engines to create a magnetic field, a superconductor does not require an oscillating magnetic field. Instead, it relies on the Meissner effect – meaning it creates its own magnetic fields from its interior. Wired says the levitation effect of the supercooled superconductors isn’t new, but “deploying it on such a [large] scale requires serious effort,” including many magnets built into the ground, perhaps in specially designed skate parks.  While SLIDE from Lexus is likely destined to remain a form of promotional branding rather than a mass-produced product, it is still fun to consider a future where we zip around from place to place on hoverboards.  The world can dream, right?

Use Apex Magnets Today

While you might not be able to create or sell a usable hoverboard, you can build so many other incredible things with our selection of neodymium magnets. If you ever want to talk through an intended application, call the Apex team at (1-304) 257-1193. We genuinely enjoy working with you to find the product you need.