Lexus’ awesome Hoverboard goes on permanent display in the US
Many of the things we thought of as sci-fi are now sci-fact, but some are more ready for commercialisation than others.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2020) 'Lexus’ awesome Hoverboard goes on permanent display in the US', 311 Institute, 22 February. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/lexus-awesome-hoverboard-goes-on-permanent-display-in-the-us/ (Accessed: 8 October 2026).
Back in 2015, Lexus, who in another world first recently got an AI to write the script for their latest car advert, unveiled a stunning hoverboard prototype and needless to say the mysterious project titled SLIDE had sci-fi fans and Back to the Future fans drooling into their morning coffee, and when you have a look at the video below it’s no wonder why.
In the original video Pro skateboarder Ross McGouran attempted to boardslide the hoverboard and drop into skate bowls in a custom built skatepark using nothing more than the magic of magnetic levitation, and the mist you can see emanating from the side of the board is actually from the liquid nitrogen used to cool the superconductors and magnets inside it that help it levitate, and just one of the many reasons that prevented the hoverboard from being commercialised.
Now though, five years on from the hoverboards original debut Lexus have decided to put it on permanent display and teamed up with Crealev and Frozen Fish Design, who created the board, to find a way to hide the magnets and bring the magic of magnetic levitation, and hoverboards, to the general public.
So, while you still won’t be able to buy one anytime soon, now at least you can stare at it longingly. However, that said, as we make strides in developing new superconductors, including ones that work at room temperature and don't need to be super-cooled to work, and mega magnets, and apply the magic of magnetic levitation to new Mach 1 and Mach 3 Hyperloop trains it might not be as long as you think before you can skate around on one…
What this means for your organisation
A demo is not a product.
Lexus unveiled its SLIDE hoverboard in 2015. Five years later it is a display piece, not something you can buy. Leaders should treat a striking demo as proof of physics, not proof of a market.
Cooling is the real barrier.
The board needs liquid nitrogen to cool the superconductors and magnets inside it. That is one of the reasons it was never commercialised. Room Temperature Superconductors would remove this barrier, but they sit at readiness level 2, with a first product around 2048 and wide use around 2065.
Build on what is ready now.
Mega Magnets are at readiness level 8, so they are close to usable today. Magnetic levitation is also being applied to Mach 1 and Mach 3 Hyperloop trains. Plan for the mature parts now and keep the immature parts on a watch list.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- Which of our plans depend on a material that is not ready yet?
- What would we do if room temperature superconductors arrived early?
- Are we judging demos by what they show or by what they need?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Many of the things we thought of as sci-fi are now sci-fact, but some are more ready for commercialisation than others.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity programme, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Sources and further reading
- Slide lexus-int.com
- Crealev crealev.com
- Frozen Fish Design frozenfishdesign.co.uk
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 22 February 2020. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2020). Lexus’ awesome Hoverboard goes on permanent display in the US. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/lexus-awesome-hoverboard-goes-on-permanent-display-in-the-us/
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