marty mcfly finally gets his wish - LEXUS officially details how its hoverboard works

marty mcfly finally gets his wish – LEXUS officially details how its hoverboard works
image courtesy of LEXUS

the LEXUS hoverboard project began 18 months ago through a collaboration with a team of scientists from IFW design and evico gmbh, who specialize in magnetic levitation technology. following extensive testing, they were determined to push the hoverboard to its limits and conduct further tests within dynamic surroundings. the testing was carried out in a specially constructed hoverpark, combining elements from skate culture with technology within its architecture. 200 meters of magnetic track was transported to barcelona from the dresdan facility to lay beneath the hoverpark surface in order to create the test. 

the LEXUS hoverboard technology features two ‘cryostats’ – reservoirs in which superconducting material is kept at -197 degrees celsius through immersion in liquid nitrogen and then placed above a track that contains permanent magnets. dr. oliver de hass, evico CEO, explains: ‘the magnetic field from the track is effectively ‘frozen’ into the superconductors in the board, maintaining the distance between the board and the track—essentially keeping the board hovering. this force is strong enough to allow the rider to stand and even jump on the board.’