Evolve Skateboards:

Market Leader in Electric Skateboards and Micromobility

Evolve Skateboards is the market leader in the burgeoning global electric skateboard and the broader micromobility market that is feeding the seemingly insatiable demand for sustainable transport. The company has spent the last twelve years meticulously designing, testing, and optimizing every part of their boards so riders can experience the best electric skateboards in the world. With more than 15 awards and with service centers, distributors, and retailers now servicing over 50 countries, Evolve Skateboards has a growing number of happy and loyal customers worldwide.

The company was born on the Gold Coast, Australia, through the sheer passion and obsession for finding the link between snowboarding, surfing, and all things carving on land. Evolve’s electric skateboards are made by riders for riders. Since 2009, Evolve has been developing aesthetically refined, quality electric skateboards focused on the best feeling ride possible, and in 2024 expanded their product range to include an electric BMX bike – the Project BMX.

The Founding Story

One day back in 2008, while walking back to his car after a surf at his home break on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Jeff Anning, the eventual co-founder of Evolve Skateboards, saw something that, unbeknownst to him at the time, would change the direction of his career and life.

“I saw this guy coming past me on a skateboard, but he wasn’t pushing. When I saw that skateboard, I thought instantly, ‘That’s my answer.’ I would be able to achieve that endless snowboard feeling in front of my very own house.” – Jeff Anning

What Jeff had just seen was an electric skateboard, powered by a motor and controlled using a handheld remote. Jeff was so impressed he scoured the internet looking for the best board he could find. While thoroughly enjoying the experience of riding the electronic skateboard, he was disappointed by the quality and design of his board. So, he decided to tinker with the board and quickly decided he could design a better one—thus beginning a journey that has led him and his wife Fleur to owning and operating the multi-million-dollar international brand, Evolve Skateboards.

Early Challenges and Breakthroughs

Soon after he started riding his new electric skateboard, Jeff noticed that the deck, trucks (that steer the boards), and wheels of this board—and other boards on the market at that time—were low quality, severely affecting the ride experience. After a small taste of what was possible, the ride quality and the ability to carve effortlessly became the prime reason Jeff enjoyed riding. He decided to investigate if he could do better.

After more research, Jeff worked out what the electric skateboard market was missing—a refined, high-quality electric skateboard built using genuine skateboard parts for an unparalleled riding experience. He decided to design a system that would attach to and power a regular longboard skateboard. He ordered parts online and spent the next few years designing various prototypes until he was satisfied that he had created the best quality electric carving skateboard possible at the time.

During this time, Jeff created some low-quality videos of himself riding his boards and posted them on YouTube. The videos started generating interest from others around the world. He showed one of his friends his new board, and soon, they asked him to make one for them. Before he knew it, he had produced seven boards.

From Garage Startup to Global Business

In 2009, Jeff Anning was the owner of a landscape design business, which was struggling in the wake of the global financial crisis. With so much interest in his homemade electric skateboards, Jeff and his wife Fleur decided to mortgage their house, move into a rental property, and invest $35,000 into designing their own electric skateboards.

Working out of their garage, Jeff and Fleur sold the first batch of boards to locals in just two weeks. With further refinements to the design and additional financial support from family members, they developed their biggest production run yet—50 boards. To their surprise, and thanks to those YouTube videos Jeff had posted, they ended up shipping this run of boards to customers all over the world.

“We found people were jumping online, posting their pictures and videos, talking about it. It was almost like instantly, and we’re an international business without trying to be a global business.” – Jeff Anning

*”Literally, after the first 50 boards went out there, it all happened within, I think, within 18 months. At this stage, we were doing all the customer service, the R&D, the sales, meeting customers directly, the after-sale service. It was only just me and Fleur at the time.”*

Jeff and Fleur knew that if they were going to do this properly, they had to invest in having the right people and building a team around them that could keep up with the growth.

Growth and Expansion

Since the very beginning, they have been refining processes—from design, testing, manufacturing, sales, and distribution—always thinking, “How can we do better?” In this journey, they have constantly been innovating and keeping up with the market, staying at the forefront. They have seen 12 years of very steady growth.

Since Jeff and Fleur sold their first board a decade ago, the Evolve brand has grown and now supplies 50 countries via 15 HQ locations and a multitude of retail partners around the globe. The Gold Coast, Australia-based business now manufactures its boards in its own dedicated factory in China. In 2022, the company turned over approximately AU$30 million.

The Evolve team has grown to 100+ like-minded individuals committed to creating and servicing the best electric skateboards on the market.

Product Innovation and Evolution

Over the years, Evolve has invested heavily in product innovation, constantly refining designs and adopting new technologies to create the perfect ride.

Key Milestones:

• 2013: Produced the first carbon fiber electric skateboard.
• 2021: Released the Hadean series, a patent-pending board design using forged carbon technology (used by F1 racing cars) to create the first chassis e-skateboard deck.

Current Product Lineup (2024):

1. The Diablo – Evolve’s premium range of longboards for those who want greater speed, range, and performance (top speed: 50 km/h, range: 80 km).

• Includes the Renegade, Evolve’s dedicated off-road, all-terrain board.

1. The GTR – Evolve’s mid-priced longboard (top speed: 50 km/h, range: 44 km).

2. The Stoke – A surf-inspired compact board ideal for commuters (top speed: 42 km/h, range: 45 km).

3. The Onrique – A collaboration with Loaded Boards, offering a unique deck design (top speed: 36 km/h, range: 25 km).

In 2024, Evolve made a radical departure from electric skateboards to release the Project BMX—an electric BMX bike designed to capture the growing micromobility market.

• Project BMX:

• 500 watts of power
• 5 speed modes
• Top speed: 36 km/h
• Range: 60 km

Distribution and Retail Strategy

Evolve uses a wide range of distribution channels, including:

• Direct-to-consumer (website + physical stores)
• Distributors & retail partners (e.g., JB Hi-Fi in Australia)
• Global presence with staff in Australia, New Zealand, the US, Germany, France, and the UK

Challenges: Supply Chain & Competition

The COVID-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war disrupted supply chains, but Evolve managed to maintain stock better than competitors.

Key Competitors:

• Exway (China) – Affordable, tech-savvy boards.
• Meepo (China) – Entry-level, budget-friendly.
• Bajaboard (Australia) – Rugged off-road performance.
• Metroboard (USA) – Premium, customizable boards.

Marketing & Community Engagement

• YouTube & Social Media: Evolve has used YouTube since 2011 to promote products and engage riders.
• Facebook Groups: Unofficial customer support hubs where riders share advice.
• Refer-a-Friend Program: Drives 5% of monthly sales.

Future Outlook

The global micromobility market is expected to grow significantly. Evolve’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, and quality positions it as a market leader for years to come.