2800 watts would be a lot of juice. I never thought about using RC motors for something like this.

Size of motor (it’s the big one):
http://www.hobby-lobby.com/images/axisr.jpg

The carpet isn’t serving as a bearing, it’s just a shim to keep a snug fit against the non-rotating shaft. There are ball bearings built into the wheel hubs.

800W is closer to 1 hp (748ish watts/hp), and it’s plenty to move a person. I just got back from the shell eco-marathon in California, and we had a solar car that kicked some major ass at the competition. their weird EV conversion factor put us at 2861 mpg, but the actual useful numbers was the fact that we pushed a 158 lb car with a 120 lb driver at around 15-16 mph, using around 170 watts. This was also with 20 mph crosswinds and headwinds, and gusting to around 50 mph. It was powered off of 3 small lead acid batteries (couldn’t get the li-ion pack working right), so basically a 36v system with 7.2 amp hours.

Now that the long-winded explanation is over… As long as you have good starting torque, the power consumption isn’t a problem really. regen would be easily doable, and a quick charger could probably get it charged in under an hour of plug-in time. We had about 3 m^2 of solar cells (only 20% efficient, though), and it was just getting enough to get us into the positive power range. So for the solar case, adding a few cells won’t run anything save for some control circuitry. a charging station is a much better idea.

I don’t think adding solar panels would be very helpful though. (They’re VERY expensive, and generally not so small) Adding a little plug to the skateboard that would then connect to a solar station to recharge while not in use would be for feasible.

I’ve done a little solar project :
http://www.techienation.com/?p=21

Problem is the energy ratio is off balance. Most electric motors within practical size are maybe 800W at most. Which is usually around 1 1/2 Horsepower if I remember correctly. I weigh 190Lbs.

Using distributed energy in the form of a pulley system and clutch would work, but the machine work would cost a fortune. It might go 8MPH with me on it, and drain the batter in no time. I’d use some solar.