by Chris |
Last Updated: September 21, 2021 ACTON Blink Qu4tro
Pros
- Top speed of 23 MPH is very fast compared to similar models
- Impressive incline rate of 30 percent
- Intuitive handheld joy stick with Bluetooth connectivity
- Incredibly durable build materials
- Excellent battery life
Cons
- Very heavy at 24 lbs.
- Heaviness negatively affects maneuverability
ACTON is one of the first innovators in the up-and-coming micro transportation industry. The company dates back to 2013, making it an early figure in the industry. And with its current fleet of three outstanding, high-end electric skateboards, it’s clear that ACTON is one of the top-dogs in this category.
Among these three excellent products is the ACTON Blink Qu4tro, a truly one-of-a-kind skateboard that is clearly at the top of its class. Not only is the ACTON Blink Qu4tro fast and incredibly fun to ride, it is also the first ever 4-wheel drive motorized skateboard.
After a successful crowdfunding campaign, ACTON finally released its four-wheel drive skateboard, and it’s already living up to the very high expectations.
Add to this the Qu4tro’s resilient shock absorbing trucks, and you get a truly powerful motorized deck that can roll over all kinds of obstacles with ease.
Table of Contents
Key Features
- 4-wheel drive hub motors
- Tension suspension trucks
- Regenerative braking
- 3-hour charge time
- Aircraft-grade aluminum and carbon fiber construction
- 39 in. deck length
- 88 mm wheels
- Weighs 24 lbs.
- 3 Ride Modes
- Top speed of 23 MPH
- LED lights for safety
- Joy stick wireless remote control with Bluetooth connectivity
- Range: 22 miles
- 30% incline rate
What’s It Made Of?
If you’re looking to make a big investment by purchasing a high-end electric skateboard like the ACTON Blink Qu4tro, you’re probably concerned about durability. After all, if you’re going to put a lot of money into this kind of transportation, you want to be sure that it’s going to hold up for the long haul.
Well, that’s one concern you won’t have to worry about with the Blink Qu4tro. It’s constructed out of aircraft grade aluminum and carbon fiber. That’s right, this board is made of the same durable and safe materials that would be appropriate for constructing an aircraft. It doesn’t get much more reliable than that!
Of course, the trade-off for using such durable materials is in the board’s weight. This is definitely one of the heaviest boards we evaluated, and that has some negative impact on maneuverability. That said, this slightly compromised maneuverability is hardly enough to seriously impact your ride. Rather, it just takes some getting used to in order to figure out how to effectively manage tighter turns.
Technology & Connectivity
We really loved the technology behind the handheld remote control for this board. We found that the controls were actuated perfectly, preventing the throttle from unceremoniously throwing you from the board. That said, there did appear to be a slight lag with the controls, possibly due to the Bluetooth connectivity. Even so, we didn’t find this tiny bit of latency to dramatically affect what is overall an almost impossibly smooth and effortless ride.
Motors
One of the truly unique aspects of the Blink Qu4tro is its four-wheel drive hub motors. The motors are housed inside each wheel, avoiding the need for any kind of chain or belt.
Combined, the four motors offer 2000 watts of electric power, a significant increase compared to comparable models. With that kind of power, you can easily make it up a steep, 30% grade hill, so you’ll be just as comfortable riding up the hills of Seattle as you’ll be on the flatter streets of Portland.
What’s more, these high-powered motors can speed you along at a rate of up to 23 miles per hour! That’s significantly faster than other models of its ilk. So, whether you have a need for speed or are facing hilly terrain, the Blink Qu4tro has the answers.
Ride Quality
As we’ve mentioned above, this somewhat heavier electric skateboard doesn’t maneuver quite as well as some lighter models, but we found that a little bit of practice goes a long way toward learning how to ride this board and manage difficult twists and turns.
Beyond that, though, the ACTON Blink Qu4tro offers a supremely smooth ride. This is largely due to two key factors in its construction: the four-wheel drive hub motors and the suspension trucks. Together, these features can surmount all of the obstacles you’re likely to come across on your ride—especially rocks and small holes and cracks in the pavement. You’ll be able to clear these obstacles with ease, and without affecting the smoothness of your ride.
Battery Life & Charging Times
Maybe the strongest aspect of the Blink Qu4tro is its battery life. One full charge is enough to power the board for up to 22 miles! Of course, the charging time reflects this too: you’ll have to wait up to 3 hours for a full charge from a dead battery. But that’s hardly a concession, given just how long you can ride this board once it’s fully charged.
Are There Any Other Great Features?
Short answer: yes! In fact, the Blink Qu4tro is easily one of the most feature-rich longboards we’ve evaluating. For instance, the board sports LED lights around the whole deck. So you have runner lights, tail lights, and headlights to keep you safe and visible when riding at night.
Also, even though you can get to some pretty impressive top speeds with this board, it also features regenerative braking, which we found to be incredibly smooth and intuitive. You’re unlikely to ever find yourself eating pavement with all of the great safety and usability features of this excellent board.
Overall
Sure, at this premium price point, the Acton Blink Qu4tro might not be the most practical option for someone looking for a basic electric commuter. But if you’re looking for features galore, as well as a sturdy, reliable—not to mention incredibly fast—ride, you should definitely take a look at the Blink Qu4tro.
How Does It Stack Up Against Comparable Models?
There are certainly plenty of electric skateboards on the market right now for you to choose from. That’s why we’ve included this section: to give you a better idea of how the ACTON Blink Qu4tro compares to the other models you have available to you.
ACTON Blink Qu4tro vs. BLITZART Tornado
One of the far more affordable options for electric longboards, the BLITZART Tornado doesn’t let that price point affect its amount of great features. For one thing, it’s incredibly lightweight and even features a convenient carrying handle for those times when you have to tote your board yourself.
While it doesn’t offer the speed or battery life of some other options, it still manages an admirable average maximum speed of over 17 miles per hour and can run for about 10 miles on a single charge, making the BLITZART Tornado an excellent starter eboard for someone just beginning to look into these kinds of e-commuters. Read our review
ACTON Blink Qu4tro vs. SKATEBOLT Electric Skateboard
If you’re looking for an electric longboard with similar features to that of the Blink Qu4tro at a more budget-minded price point, you might want to take a look at the SKATEBOLT Electric Skateboard. This excellent longboard sports many of the same great features of the Qu4atro, like great durability, bright safety lights and, of course, great speed. In fact, with a top speed of 20 miles per hour, the SKATEBOLT longboard slightly edges out the Qu4tro in this category. Read our review
ACTON Blink Qu4tro vs. Halo Board 2nd Edition
Another great option for those looking for an electric longboard that boasts great speed like the Blink Qu4tro is the 2nd Edition Halo Board. Even faster than the SKATEBOLT model, this Halo Board can reach speeds of up to 26 miles per hour.
The tradeoff? Well, the Halo Board only has a range of up to 12 miles on a single charge. That’s considerably less than both the Qu4tro and the SKATEBOLT options.
On the plus side, it’s much lighter than other options, making its greater portability one of its stronger factors. In fact, if you’re looking for a truly convenient commuter board, this might be a good place to start.
On the downside, the Halo Board doesn’t include certain safety and visibility features like the Qu4tro’s excellent LED headlights, running lights, and tail lights. Of course, you can always get creative and install your own! Read our review
Summary
Overall, if you’re looking for a truly top-of-the line electric longboard with every conceivable feature, you should definitely consider this quality model from ACTON. However, if portability and weight are a concern, you might want to look at some other options, as the Blink Qu4tro is quite heavy and relatively cumbersome.
But if you want something fast, durable, and with an impeccably smooth ride, the Qu4tro is an excellent place to start your search. Regardless of your reasons for purchasing an electric longboard, we’re sure the ACTON Blink Qu4tro will live up to all of your high standards.