As much as we want hoverboards to be real like we saw in Back to the Future 2, so far what we’ve seen hasn’t really come close. Last year a prank surfaced which led many to believe that a real hoverboard was in the works, only to disappoint when we found out it wasn’t real, but it looks like carmaker Lexus is here to fulfill our fantasies.
The company has recently released a video and some photos which shows what appears to be a real hoverboard in action. Granted it’s not zipping around like what we’ve seen in the movies, but it seems like the real deal. Interestingly enough unlike other hoverboards we’ve seen, Lexus’s hoverboard appears to be working just fine on a regular concrete surface.
In case it was just a concept or advertising campaign, the folks at Gizmodo reached out to Lexus to find out additional details. While the specifics of the device weren’t revealed, Lexus claims that it is real and it relies on liquid nitrogen-cooled superconductors and permanent magnets that gives it the ability to hover and support an actual rider.
Engadget has also confirmed with Lexus that despite the appearance that it can float on concrete, the skate park in the video actually has a metal surface underneath it, thus allowing it to hover meaning that you can’t expect to use it anywhere and everywhere just yet. The device has reportedly been in development for the past 18 months and it is said to be undergoing testing by a professional skateboarder in Barcelona.
It is unclear as to where Lexus wants to head with their hoverboard but the company has stated that they will be showing off more updates in the coming weeks, but in the meantime check out the video above to see it in action.
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