Float History

Dean Kamen, Robert Ambrogi, Robert Duggan, J. Field, Richard Heinzmann, Burl Amesbury, and Christopher Langenfeld invent automatically balancing vehicles.

Future Motion, Inc. launches the Onewheel :: The Self Balancing Electric Skateboard Kickstarter campaign.

Within the first 24 hours, the project reaches 40% of it’s initial $100,000 pledge goal.

After 25 days, the original Kickstarter campaign for the Onewheel is fully funded by 1,015 backers for $630,862.

The first Onewheel is hand-delivered by Kyle Doerksen and Jack Mudd.

Future Motion, Inc. holds the first officially sponsored Onewheel competition at the GoPro Mountain Games in Vail, Colorado, which occurred June 4-7, 2015. “Onewheel” was listed as a “Demo & Expo Partner” for the event.

(If you know who won this competition, or any details about this competition, please send me a message!)

Future Motion, Inc. was granted an ex parte temporary restraining order and seizure order against Changzhou First International Trade, which prompted US Marshals to raid their booth at CES 2016 (video), confiscating their Trotter single wheel electric skateboard devices and all associated promotional material.

Future Motion, Inc. previously filed a complaint of patent infringement against Changzhou First International Trade on January 5, 2016.

Future Motion, Inc. voluntarily dismissed their lawsuit against Changzhou First International Trade on Feburary 4, 2016.

Future Motion, Inc. announces Onewheel+. Most notably, Onewheel+ features the first iteration of the “Hypercore” motor, which allows the axle to act as a heat sink for the motor. Onewheel+ was initially priced at $1,499 and shipped in April 2017.

(If you know the exact date the Onewheel+ arrived to the first customer, please send me a message!)

Future Motion, Inc. announces Onewheel+ XR. Compared to Onewheel+, the battery voltage was increased from 48V to 63V, and the range more than doubled from 5-7 miles to 12-18 miles. Onewheel+ XR was initially priced at $1,799 and shipped in March 2018.

During the life of the Onewheel+ XR, Future Motion, Inc. updated the Onewheel application so that it no longer displays pack or individual cell voltages in diagnostics. Being able to see each cell’s voltage is an important safety feature and can help riders identify faulty batteries before they cause a ride failure. This feature also allowed riders with non-stock batteries to monitor their remaining charge by inspecting pack voltage in diagnostics.

(If you know the exact date the Onewheel+ XR arrived to the first customer, or the exact date or version the Onewheel app was updated to no longer show voltages, please send me a message!)

Future Motion, Inc. announces Onewheel Pint. Onewheel Pint is a more compact and affordable addition to Future Motion, Inc.’s product lineup, featuring a slower top speed of 16mph and shorter range of 6-8 miles when compared to the Onewheel+ XR. The Onewheel Pint was initially priced at $950 and started shipping in May 2019.

(If you know the exact date the Onewheel Pint arrived to the first customer, please send me a message!)

Future Motion, Inc., announces Onewheel GT and Onewheel Pint X during their “Onewheel Uncharted” live event.

The Onewheel Pint X, initially priced at $1,400, is a direct successor of the original Onewheel Pint. Its advertised range (12–18 miles), battery voltage (63 V nominal), and top speed (18 mph) match those of the Onewheel+ XR, while keeping the same form factor of the original Pint.

The Onewheel GT replaces the Onewheel+ XR as Future Motion’s flagship product, featuring a complete design overhaul and improved performance. Priced at $2,200, the GT features an advertised top speed of 20 mph, expected range of 20–32 miles, and a 75 V battery.

Controversially, the GT uses a larger hub motor rim diameter—6.5 inches versus the XR’s 6 inches. Compared to the XR tire, the GT tire holds less air and provides less clearance between the tire and hub; these factors negatively affect the ride experience and increase the risk of hub motor rim damage.

Additionally, the new tire dimensions render all previous Onewheel tires incompatible with the GT. With 11.5×6.5-6.5 tires being a non-standard size, non-Future Motion Onewheel GT compatible tires would not exist for months following the launch of the board.

Both new boards were available for purchase immediately. Onewheel Pint X started shipping same-day, with the first customers receiving their boards the next day. The first production Onewheel GT shipped on March 7, 2022.

A key issue affecting the early production models of the Onewheel GT was “ghosting”, where the footpad sensor remains active after a rider leaves the board, causing the board to stay engaged and drive away as if a “ghost” is riding it. This unintended behavior poses a serious risk to persons and property as the board will accelerate to its top capable speed (roughly 30 mph) and continue traveling until the board topples over or the sensor recognizes the error.

This issue became so widespread that on August 11, 2022, Future Motion, Inc. and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recalled thousands of GT footpads. Consumers can determine if their footpad is affected by visiting recall.onewheel.com, and if affected, receive a replacement footpad free of charge.

The recall revealed that by August 11, 2022, Future Motion, Inc. had received 813 reports of “ghosting”, with 11 of those reports including injuries.

To mitigate the ghosting issue, Future Motion, Inc. started manufacturing GT footpads with an additional layer of plastic between the grip tape and the sensor, rendering the sensor less sensitive to pressure and thus less likely to receive false-positive readings. There are numerous community tutorials available instructing users how to remove this extra layer of plastic if desired, as some riders prefer the previous, more sensitive pressure sensors (accepting the higher risk of “ghosting” and of damaging their sensor during the modification.)

On this date, The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) posted a warning about the risk of death and serious injury with all models of Future Motion Inc.’s Onewheel self-balancing electric skateboards. Siting at least four reported deaths between 2019 and 2021 and multiple reports of serious injuries after the product failed to balance the rider or suddenly stopped while in motion.

CPSC Commissioner Richard Trumka stated “Immediately stop using all Onewheel electric skateboards—they are not worth dying for.”

According to the CPSC, Future Motion, Inc. refused to agree to an acceptable recall of the product. Future Motion, Inc. issued a press release and public message regarding the CPSC statement on social media, calling CPSC’s warning “unjustified and alarmist”.

In conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Future Motion, Inc. voluntarily recalls 300,000 Onewheel self-balancing electric skateboards, involving all Onewheel models. At the same time, Future Motion, Inc. released the Haptic Buzz alert functionality (release video), which addresses the safety concerns in the recall via a firmware update that was available by September 29, 2023 to Onewheel GT, and available via a much later update on Onewheel+ XR, Onewheel Pint, and Onewheel Pint X.

According to Future Motion, Inc., the original Onewheel and Onewheel+ models are not eligible for the firmware update, so they should not be used. Onewheel and Onewheel+ owners can confirm eligibility and possession to receive a $100 credit toward the purchase of a new Onewheel.

Although Future Motion, Inc. originally stated there would be a way for Onewheel Racing League members who met a mileage minimum to disable Haptic Buzz, this feature never actually launched. It is commonly speculated that the feature was scraped in order satisfy the CPSC.

(If you know the exact date the Haptic Buzz firmware was available for Onewheel+ XR, Onewheel Pint, or Onewheel Pint X, please send me a message!)

Future Motion, Inc. hosts Race for the Rail (recap video), the finale race of the 2025 Onewheel Racing League season at Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area in Hollister, California from August 14-17.

Race for the Rail 2025 saw significant changes from past year’s formats where only top-ranked Pro class riders were invited to compete on a downhill-focused course.

This year’s race featured an open qualifier and separate competitions for each rider class. Instead of a downhill course, participants competed on a motocross course with varied elevation and an abundance of kickers. Also new to this year, a separate mass start race and freestyle trick competition.

Controversially, Race for the Rail 2025 was also the first Race for the Rail that featured board footholds, however only Future Motion, Inc.’s “FST” footholds were permitted.

Race Winners:

• Pro Men: Jahfari Silsley (results)
• Pro Women: Zayne Carter (results)
• Expert: Max Post-Leib (results)
• Legend: Ryan Walker (results)
• Clydesdale: Dee Montes (results)
• Grom: Cody Thornton (results)

Freestyle Competition Winner: Bodhi Harrison (results)

Mass-Start Race Winner: Cody Thornton (results)

Over the course of the Onewheel Racing League 2025 season, riders competed at up to 8 ORL Season Events to earn cumulative points via a new dynamic event scoring model. Concluding with the Season Finale at Race for the Rail, the finalized season results are as follows:

Pro Men (full results)

1. Hayden Bolling (213.3 points)
2. Jahfari Silsley (185 points)
3. Josh Ledford (154.7 points)

Pro Women (full results)

1. Zayne Carter (239.4 points)
2. Ashley Gnann (205.1 points)
3. Emma Stewart (163.5 points)

Clydesdale (full results)

1. Sebastian Cusick (208.1 points)
2. Dee Montes (164 points)
3. Andrew Coleman (135.5 points)

Legends (full results)

1. Richard Stovall (197 points)
2. Timothy Vandehey (190.7 points)
3. Charles Leib (151.2 points)

Expert (full results)

1. Nicholas Meeker (183.5 points)
2. Max Leib (180 points)
3. Joshua Rivera (151.7 points)