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  1. 2d ago

    Explomar electric outboards win again at Monaco Open Sea endurance race

    The Open Sea Class of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge is where the e-boat industry comes to show their latest products in a competitive setting. Unlike other boat shows – even in-water shows – where the emphasis is on displaying the boats to the buying public, at Monaco the emphasis is on friendly competitions between companies intent on showing how the latest technologies and designs compare with each other. Two of the highlights of the Challenge are the YCM (Yacht Club de Monaco) Speed Record and the 16 Nautical Mile Speed Race. The YCM event is a one kilometre straightaway competition that takes place along the Monaco coastline just east of the Yacht Club, while the 16 NM Speed Race has the boats testing both speed and autonomy in the open sea, going from the Club to Ventimiglia, Italy and back. Listen to this article as a podcast This year the winning companies in each race were the same as last year – but they both did it using a different boat than their 2025 entries. Frauscher × Porsche took the YCM with a boat lighter and shorter than last year’s Fantom 850 Air, while Explomar high performance outboards in partnership with X-Tenders and XNRG won the Open Sea Race with a boat 250 kilograms heavier and .6 meters longer than last year’s winner. Challenging wind and wave conditions In the Monaco-Ventimiglia competition, the XNRG 8.3-meter carbon-fiber RIB – Rigid Inflatable Bat – powered by the ExploMar WAVE 300+ crossed the finish line in 35 minutes and 24 seconds, defending its title and finishing nearly nine minutes ahead of the Frauscher × Porsche Specter 797. The day before, that Specter 797 was the winner of the straightaway race, setting a new record time and speed of  38.2 seconds and 51.05 knots (84.95 kph / 52.16 mph) with the EXNRG-Explomar  boat placing second. Read: Frauscher × Porsche sets another speed record at 2026 Energy Boat Challenge While the YCM Speed Record is the more glamorous of the two events, the offshore 16 NM event is probably a better test of how the boats fare in conditions more like real life, although they were certainly put to the test on this day! Competitors faced Force 4 winds (13.9–20.7 knots) and 1–2 meter waves, creating severe pitching and heaving motions and rapid propeller ventilation and re-immersion. Those conditions are challenging for any boat and motor, and a good workout for electric propulsion in particular because there are dramatic load fluctuations and extreme demands on the system’s dynamic response, mechanical robustness, and the battery’s thermal management capability. One of the reasons Explomar and Team XNRG were able to repeat their victory from last year is the data collected during last year’s championship. It also helped that the same captain, Gerben Boomsma of XNRG, was at the helm. Four boats in race with Explomar electric outboards “It was a little bumpy for sure,” said Boomsma, “a lot rougher than last year, when it was very calm but the heat was what you had to deal with. This year it was already a bit rougher in the days before the race – even during the straightaway speed race – so we were able to look at what is the smartest way to run the boat, propeller-wise and with what RPMs to make sure that we were able to get the most efficiency and balance of speed and range.” ExploMar engineers collaborated closely with Boomsba’s team to optimize the WAVE 300+ system specifically for the Force 4 sea conditions. The torque control strategy was recalibrated to suppress torque oscillations during repeated propeller ventilation and re-entry. On the battery side, thermal management algorithms were refined to maintain cooling performance as the load fluctuated. There was also a fair bit of old-fashioned seamanship involved. “We held back a bit at the beginning, when everyone took off, “said Boomsba, “to look at what was happening and how the boats were behaving in the waves because it was quite serious. In front of the the stone walls on the shore where all the waves are coming back, there are random peaks and crosswake are all around you, the pilots call it ‘the washing machine’ when the conditions are like this.” “It was a serious journey” “We were together with Frauscher-Porsche and Vita at the first buoy and we were the first ones turning at the Ventimiglia buoy, but then we decided to take a bit of a different route, so we were taking it almost like half wind, so it was a bit more comfortable. We had to travel a bit more distance, but that gave us a steadier speed, so that was basically where we pulled ahead.” “But we were really happy arriving back  in Monaco because it was it was a serious journey I can tell you.” The technical analysis shows the boat maintained an average speed of 27 knots over the full 16-nautical-mile event, crossed the finish line with 40% battery capacity remaining, and recorded a maximum battery temperature below 45°C, demonstrating significant thermal management margin under sustained high-load operation. The winning boat was one of four entries using Explomar systems, each boat paired with and designed to showcase the versatility of the company’s different motors. Average speed 27 knots, 16 NM, 40% of battery untouched Like the 300+ on the XNRG 8.3, all of the Explomar systems were matched with Rigid Inflatable hulls, of varying sizes and shapes. Tokarex of Poland, distributors and dealers of Explomar and the Kolibri and Gala boat lines, showcased the first all-electric model they are offering for sale, a Gala Atlantis A500 Cruising RIB with the WAVE 70+. German full service yard, marina and broker Yacht Technik married Explomar’s WAVE 150 with a 6.5 metre (21 ft) RIB from Italian manufacturer ZAR Formenti. The fourth boat partnering with Explomar was the impressive Arcistratega presented by AS Labruna, a 10 metre (33 foot) RIB developed on a Python 33 platform with dual WAVE 300+ outboards. In addition to Explomar’s high-capacity batteries she is equipped with solar panels and a methanol-powered fuel cell used to generate electricity at night and during periods when solar production is insufficient. In collaboration with its official propeller partner SOLAS, ExploMar optimized each propulsion package through dedicated propeller matching and system calibration, ensuring maximum performance across every vessel platform. The 11-meter Arcistratega hit a speed of 29.58 knots despite a fully loaded displacement of 5.5 tonnes. The ZAR RIB powered by the WAVE 150+ achieved an average speed of 26.06 knots, while the 5-meter Gala RIB and WAVE 70+ reached 20 knots. “Winning this championship for the second consecutive year is both an honour and a responsibility for our entire team,” said Alex Dong, Founder and CEO of ExploMar. “Every victory is built upon countless engineering iterations, extensive sea trials, and the dedication of our partners. Looking ahead, ExploMar will continue pushing the boundaries of electric propulsion performance along with a broader electric marine ecosystem to deliver higher-performance, reliable, and smarter electrification solutions for waterways worldwide.” Explomar   Tokarex  Yacht & Technik  AS Labruna  Monaco Energy Boat Challenge See Explomar Motors for Sale in the Plugboats Marketplace The post Explomar electric outboards win again at Monaco Open Sea endurance race appeared first on Plugboats.

    Explomar electric outboards win again at Monaco Open Sea endurance race

  2. Aug 6

    Frauscher X Porsche sets +50 knot electric boat speed record in Monaco

    The Monaco Energy Boat Challenge (MEBC) gathers the best and brightest of university students from around the world, bringing them together with some of the stars of the electric boat industry to advance the future of zero emission propulsion through races and competitions. This year’s event (the 13th annual) took place July 8 – 11 at the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM). Listen to this article as a podcast There are four Classes of boats in the MEBC. Students compete in the Energy and AI Classes; the SeaLab Class is open to both student and commercial ventures; and production electric boats are in the Open Sea Class. Frauscher X Porsche also set electric boat speed record last year All of the Classes have internal competitions for things like manoeuvrability and endurance, and the SeaLab and Open Sea boats face off against each other in the YCM Speed Record. The boats take off from a starting line just outside the breakwaters of the Club and race along the Monaco shore to a marker 500 metres away. The course echoes that of the world’s first international powerboat race in 1904. There are two timed legs – one out to the marker and one back – with the fastest average time deciding the winner. The record was set last year by the Frauscher-Porsche 850 Fantom with a speed just shy of 50 knots at 49.84 kt (92.3 kph / 57.35 mph). This year Frauscher Porsche entered their new creation, the 797 Spectre. It  came to the starting line with the crowd buzzing with anticipation that this might be the year the 50 knot barrier was cracked. Indeed it was, with Frauscher pilot Bastien Bonnet coming in with a final average time of 38.2 seconds and speed of 51.05 knots: 94.54 kph / 58.75 mph. Pilot Bastien Bonnet and Frauscher Managing Director Stefan Frauscher. All Photos ©Monaco Energy Boat Challenge “Breaking the record we set only last year is an exceptional achievement by the entire team” said Frauscher. “The 797 Spectre impressively demonstrates the potential created by the consistent joint development of the boat, hull and electric powertrain.” The joint development he refers to is the partnership of Frauscher and Porsche, two historic names in their respective industries. Porsche was founded in 1931 by Ferdinand Porsche and Frauscher Boats in 1927 by Engelbert Frauscher. Today, Porsche is one of the most successful luxury sports car manufacturers in the world and Frauscher is Europe’s largest electric boat builder. Both companies are family-driven, have very similar values, and focus on innovation, design and quality. Europe’s leading electric boat builder  Frauscher Bootswerft started out building sailboats, then gas/petrol powerboats and in 1955 introduced their first electric boats. Since that time they have worked with many marine propulsion companies, including Torqeedo, Molabo and Evoy. The Porsche electric partnership is the first with an automotive drive train. It came about in 2022 when Frauscher executives were meeting with Porsche (the companies had worked together on a fossil fuel boat, the Demon, in 2016) and the car company revealed their plans for a new all-electric SUV – the Macan – and wondered if there might be something in using its power train in a Frauscher hull. The boatyard leapt at the chance, developed a prototype, showed it to the board of Porsche, and the two companies unveiled the Frauscher X Porsche 850 Fantom Air in 2024. In 2025 they launched the boat in a closed fore deck model that won numerous awards, including the Gussies International Electric Boat Awards, and set the 2025 Monaco speed record. They unveiled the new record 797 Spectre in January 2026 at Boot Düsseldorf. Spectre 797 designed from clean sheet to be electric Other than the Spectre being shorter and lighter than the Fantom, the essential difference is that the Fantom was an existing hull that had the Porsche electric drivetrain installed while the Spectre was designed from the beginning around the electric motor and battery. Frauscher had the two ideal candidates for creating the boat – nautical engineer/yacht designer Harry Miesbauer and designer Stefan Iverwin. Miesbauer is renowned for his sailboat designs and has worked on many notable yachts, including the Amer Sport One of the Nautor Challenge and the Volvo Ocean Race. Harry’s father used to sail with Engelbert Frauscher and Harry likes to tell the story of getting a call in 2012 from Michael Frauscher, the company’s Head of Design asking if he would like to work on designing a new boat. “I said, ‘Ahhh, nice, you’re going to go back to sailing boats’. No, Michael said, I want you to design a motorboat’. Miesbauer asked him if he was crazy, saying ‘I haven’t done a motorboat since my time in university!” He took on the project, though, and that turned out to be the original 850 Fantom, a very successful multi award-winning combustion boat. The same boat that would have the Porsche Macan engine installed a decade later. Spectre Designer Stefan Iverwin found his life coming somewhat full circle when asked to work on the project. “I started my career at the Porsche Design Studio” he told me, “working for many years in vehicle design, product design, industrial design, and even architectural projects.” He has been with Frauscher for the past 10 years and was the obvious choice for the Spectre’s overall visual design and the styling of the boat’s exterior and interior elements that deliberately blend automotive and nautical influences. Miesbauer said that from a nautical engineering perspective, knowing from the beginning that the boat would be electrically powered made a huge difference. “The main thing with hull design is to know the weight of all of the parts, and then address the most important aspect – the centre of gravity. That is what makes the boat ride properly and with the optimum efficiency.” Design language of a Porsche with Frauscher DNA “With the Fantom electric we had to redo certain structural aspects and some stringers to distribute weight in the same way as with the combustion engine, but with the Spectre we had a blank sheet. We could address everything and have it as we wanted from the first sketches.” From Iverwin’s design point of view, the freedom to create the whole boat specifically for electric propulsion was an exciting opportunity. “We were able to tailor things to the battery, which has a very specific large format that effects so many things. So when you look at the design, you see that it has a slightly different feel from other Frauscher models. It has some design elements, some design features on the sides with the air intakes and outtakes, where we wanted to show off this new kind of boat, visually hint that it has a different power source.” The functionality of the air vents is to enable battery cooling, but this helped contribute to developing an overall design aesthetic. “We wanted to celebrate them as design features,” said Iverwin, “so if you look at the side intakes, they are the source for a straight line that goes all around the rear end and adds a lot of dynamism to the whole design theme.” “If you look at the surface treatment overall, it makes the boat look bolder and stronger and from the rear end, you can see that it looks quite wide, a very fast, sportive boat. It resembles the design language that you find on a sports car like the Porsche. So it echoes that, but is also part of the Frauscher DNA, this sportive approach and kind of automotive feel that you find in many of their models.” Power and performance In speaking with Miesbauer and Iverwin, I asked them what reaction they hoped people would have when they experienced the Spectre 797 for the first time. “That it is surprisingly powerful” was the naval architect’s first thought. “They would say ‘I didn’t know you could have the same performance, maybe even better, with an electric boat, that you have with a combustion boat.'” “For me,” said Stefan, “the best thing that can happen is if someone sees the boat and just has a gut reaction of ‘I love this boat, I want this boat’ They also find reasons why it makes sense to decide for the boat, but I want that emotion, that feeling, saying ‘I love how it looks, I love how it feels when I drive it, I love how it performs.” Power. Performance. With a +50 knot result at the 2026 YCM Speed Record competition at the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, it seems fair to say that those goals have been achieved. Frauscher Boats   Monaco Energy Boat Challenge See Fraucher Boats for Sale in the Plugboats Marketplace The post Frauscher X Porsche sets +50 knot electric boat speed record in Monaco appeared first on Plugboats.

    Frauscher X Porsche sets +50 knot electric boat speed record in Monaco

  3. Jul 6

    Monaco Energy Boat Challenge keeps growing with 2026 edition

    The 13th annual Monaco Energy Boat Challenge (MEBC) takes place July 8-11, with university students, electric boat builders and alternative fuel experts converging from around the world to meet at the host Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM) and explore greener marine propulsion in all shapes, sizes and use cases. Listen to this article as a podcast The MEBC has grown with the rise of electric boating since 2014 while also leading the pace of the technology that is changing how we travel on water. The number of teams, university students and alumni having participated is a testament to the event’s importance: 1,825 innovators from more than 30 countries and every continent except Antarctica. At this year’s Challenge there will be more than 50 different competitors from 20 countries on four continents competing in four classes: ENERGY CLASS: Flagship of the Challenge. Twenty six university teams from 11 countries design and build clean-energy racing catamarans — electric, hydrogen and solar — and push them through three trials based on speed, slalom and endurance – winding up with the always exciting championship race. OPEN SEA XPERIENCE: Brings eleven production-ready electric and hybrid boats from eight countries — tenders, RIBs, yachts and performance craft — to showcase their latest models and technologies and face off against each other in real open-water conditions. Will anyone get over the 50 knot mark to break the speed record of 49.84 knots (92.3 kph / 57.35 mph) set last year by the Frauscher × Porsche — 850 Fantom? SEALAB CLASS: A pure naval-architecture challenge where university teams design and build cutting-edge boats. Think emerging energy architectures: hydrogen, methanol, electric, solar, wingsails, hydrofoiling prototypes, innovative hull designs – making up the floating laboratories for tomorrow’s production vessels. AI CLASS: The only class with no one at the helm. University teams build fully autonomous, pilotless boats that perceive, decide and steer for themselves. Guided by LiDAR, cameras, GPS and neural networks, they compete in four autonomous races: Docking, Fleet, Figure of 8 and Slalom. Read Plugboats’ coverage of all the MEBCs since 2019 While the ‘Challenge’ in Monaco Energy Boat Challenge refers to the competitions, it can also be seen as a challenge to the boating and yachting industry to come up with solutions that are better for our planet – while also referencing the environmental challenges we are all facing. To that end, the MEBC also encompasses two days of conferences for the yachting industry. On Thursday, July 9, the Advance Yachting Technology Conference takes place. Yacht and superyacht builders, designers and companies in the supply chain will gather to discuss and explore how new design approaches need to encompass clean propulsion and how decarbonization goes hand in hand with onboard efficiency and   digital transformation. Day Two, Friday July 10, sees the 7th annual Alternative Fuels and Sustainable Yachting Conference, with presentations, Q&As and seminars providing an objective analysis of alternative fuels in the maritime sector — hydrogen, methanol and other innovative sources, with insights into research, real-world applications and future developments. With the exception of the yachting conference, the public is invited to attend all of the races and events of the MEBC. It is a very exciting and inspiring to visit The Quayside of the Yacht Club de Monaco where hundreds of university students from all over the world are fine tuning their zero emission boats for the different races. Each of these talented engineering, naval architecture and other students are intent on making the world a better place and their enthusiasm is contagious. Jutting off the quayside is the YCM E-Dock, which allows up to 20 electric boats to recharge at the same time during the Challenge. It was conceived by the Club in 2023 as part of its commitment to sustainable navigation, and built in conjunction with Aqua superPower, the global marine fast-charging network. The eco-pontoon has flexible solar panels on the roof and is equipped with both AC and DC chargers through Aqua’s high-power marine charging infrastructure (Aqua 200 HPC) in association with Kempower Satellite technology. It is the largest public marine fast-charging installation on a single pontoon, eclipsing even the facility Aqua constructed for the Paris Olympics sailing events. Below are the schedule, some further descriptions of the events, and some past highlights from the MEBC. At the bottom of this article is a list of all competitors with links for more information. Wednesday July 8: Grand Parade and E-Boat Rally Wednesday kicks off the MEBC with a Grand Parade of all competitors in all classes, and the E-Boat Rally, where competitors in the Open Sea and SeaLab Classes tour the harbour of the Yacht Club and then take to the open waters of the Mediterranean past the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, a magnificent building perched on the cliffs not far from the Prince’s Palace. Thursday July 9: Qualifying, YCM Speed Record, Manoeuvrability, Dock  and Fleet Energy Class: Qualifying Laps. Each boat with its assigned pilot shows its pace over timed laps on the course in Port Hercule. Energy Class, Open Sea and SeaLab: YCM Speed Record Off the coast of Monaco, running along the shore over a course inspired by the boundaries where the Yacht Club hosted the first international powerboat contest in 1904. This is the most spectacular moment of the week, open to all eligible boats. Two 500-metre runs are combined into a a single one-kilometre result. Last year the Frauscher × Porsche — 850 Fantom (that has the same motor as the Porsche Macan electric SUV) set the record with a speed of 49.84 knots (92.3 kph / 57.35 mph). This year the latest collaboration between the two companies – the Frauscher × Porsche 790 Spectre – will have its crack at the record, competing with boats and motors by Explomar, Taiga, Evoy/Vita, WIA Yachts, Weenav and ZeroJet. Read: Frauscher-Porsche 850 Fantom Winner in 2025 Gussies Electric Boat Awards SeaLab: Manoeuvrability A precision-handling trial: each boat runs a technical course in the harbour, judged on agility, control and the responsiveness of its propulsion and steering. AI Class: Docking and Fleet In Docking, each boat approaches and docks autonomously, with no human input — a test of precise perception and control. In the Fleet competition, several autonomous boats share the water, navigating and avoiding one another in a live fleet scenario. Friday July 10: Endurance, 16 Nautical Mile Speed Race, Figure of 8 Energy Class: Endurance Race The speed events are the ones that create all the excitement, but the endurance race is where the engineering students are really put to the test on developing technologies and designs that will have a better chance of success with a public that is looking for range in their electric boats. The Endurance Race is run over the same course as the YCM Speed Record and the title goes to the boat that can complete the most laps within a specified time using only a single charge (or tank of hydrogen). Open Sea and SeaLab: 16 Nautical Miles Unlike the short range YCM Speed Record, this long-distance run from – Monaco to Ventimiglia Italy and back –  tests range, energy management and reliability — the true measure of a credible zero-emission design over a real-world distance. Last year’s event had a nail biting finish when the A/XE from Evoy-Vita and Axopar had the lead and looked like it was going to cruise home for the victory but was nipped at the last second by the NRGX 6.3 RIB powered by ExploMar’s WAVE 300 (220 kW) electric outboard system. Neither of those boats are entered this year (although Evoy-Vita and Explomar are powering other entries), so we’ll see who can come out on top in 2026! AI Class: Figure of 8 A continuous figure-of-eight course testing path-planning, turning and obstacle handling over time. Saturday July 11: Slalom, Endurance, Manoeuvrability and The Championship Open Sea: Manoeuvrability A precision-handling course in the harbour, judged on agility, control and the responsiveness of each electric drivetrain. SeaLab: Endurance The SeaLab final on the championship course, combining speed and stamina to crown the best all-round prototype of the week. AI Class: Slalom A fast slalom through the buoys — the sharpest test of real-time object detection and reactive steering. Energy Class: The Championship This is the absolute highlight of the week for sheer entertainment, excitement and electricity – both in the boats and in the crowd atmosphere. All of the 26 university teams compete in a head to head knock out competition set on a course in the main harbour of the Yacht Club. The race involves each team going around multiple markers and the way it is set up it is difficult to see who is winning until the final 25 metres or so. The passion of the pilots competing is exceeded only by the passion with which all the members of all of the teams quayside and around the Club cheer on their comrades as only university students can. At the end of all the competitions the points from each event are tallied up to declare the overall winner of each Class. The University of Bologna is truly the Greatest Of All Time in the Championship Races, the Energy Class itself and maybe ever the entire MEBC as they have won four of the past five Energy Class titles. Let’s see who wins this year! 2026 Monaco Energy Boat Challenge Competing Teams and Entries ENERGY CLASS (Click on the team name for more info) WANNSEA – Germany: Technische Universität Berlin URPM RACING – Puerto Rico:University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez UNIVERSITY OF BOLOGNA – Italy:Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna TEAM SEA SAKTHI — India: Kumaraguru College

    Monaco Energy Boat Challenge keeps growing with 2026 edition

  4. Jul 3

    UK electric boat show ‘Electrika’ returns for 3rd successful year

    One of the communities embracing electric propulsion is the owners of the boats and barges that ply the web of canals and rivers of England, Scotland and Wales. Electrika – the only show dedicated to electric narrowboats on UK waterways – is back for its third year in response to rising interest. Listen to this article as a podcast The show is now an important meeting place for boat builders, refitters, motor companies and accessory suppliers to share information and real-life experience about the electric life. Most canalboat, barges and narrowboats are powered with diesel, so electric propulsion is new and exciting, but education is needed. Electrika 2026 is organized and presented by Aquavista, the UK’s largest marina operator, and Ortomarine, one of the leading builders of electric narrowboats. Ortomarine has produced over 30 electric narrowboats – a mix of Serial Hybrid, Parallel Hybrid and All Electric designs. Their commitment to greener boating was recognized in 2022 with a UK Boating Business sustainability award. Aquavista’s 33 marinas offer a full suite of residential and leisure moorings, boat sales, floating homes and marine services.  Friday July 10 and Saturday July 11 are the show dates, Brinklow Waterside & Marina, Cathiron Lane, Rugby is the show location. Entry is FREE. Tickets can be »» reserved on the Electrika website. There will be seven electric narrowboats for visitors to inspect with the boat builders and owners there to answer any questions. Other builders will have representatives and information available, but will not have a boat on the water. There are also exhibits and information from electric motor and systems suppliers, battery and solar panel companies and others with green products and services available, including a hydrogen fuel cell unit specifically designed for narrowboat owners. Below are some highlighted boats and products along with brief outline of presentations from industry experts and electric narrowboat owners.  Directory of Electric Boat Exhibitors at Electrika 2026 Click to Open   +   or  –  Close a Directory of all electric exhibitors. Selected motor and accessories highlights of the show are below Click any tile for company information and links. Aqua Narrowboats aquanarrowboats.co.uk Established in 2004 by Justin & Jane Hudson-Oldroyd, Aqua Narrowboats is celebrating 20 years in business. During that time, we’ve gained a reputation for building superb quality boats and providing great customer service and aftercare. One of those boats is tThe Speedy Whippet II, a 68 ½ ft boat powered by a Hybrid Marine Parallel hybrid engine. The gas free boat has 775 amp hours of batteries enough to provide 8-12 hours of continuous cruising. The Speedy Whippet II is the fourth hybrid boat we’ve built to date. The fifth will be Thistledown (our 58th boat build). This will be a serial Hybrid utilising a Fischer Panda generator and Ortomarine’s own electric motor, LiFePO4 batteries and their OrtoMate Control system to provide monitoring and automation on board. Beta Marine betamarine.co.uk Bluewater Boats bluewaterboats.co.uk hello (at) bluewaterboats.co.uk +(44) 1926 811699   Clearwater Boats clearwaterboats.net Electrika electrika.uk July 10-11, 2026 Rugby, UK, Brinklow Waterside & Marina Buiding on the success of last year’s pioneering event, we are pleased to announce Electrika 2025, the second ever gathering of electic narrowboat owners, industry experts and manufacturers. With more and more electric narrrowboats on the canal network and increasing interest in sustainable boating, Electrika aims to encourage and support the wider adoption of electric propulsion on the UK waterways. Details for this year’s show are still being worked out, but we have included as much information as we currently have below, and we recommend watching this space for updates. Elton Moss Boatbuilders eltonmoss.com Energy Solutions energy-solutions.co.uk Marine is Energy Solutions’ longest established market area , since 1996 we have been working with leading OEM boatbuilders, superyacht owners, boat yards and individual sailing and motor yachts. As well as helping clients find power and control systems that fit their requirements we continually strive to introduce new, innovative products to our customers. We research, design and manufacture in house and provide new ways for our clients to attract customers and set themselves apart in terms of look, efficiency and technology. Working with products from the world’s leading manufacturers we are able to offer clients fully designed systems incorporating all elements form helm panels to tank senders. Finesse Boats finesseboats.co.uk Floating Ohm floatingohm.co.uk contact@floatingohm.co.ukINTERNET Luxury bespoke electric canal boats. Hybrid Marine hybrid-marine.co.uk info@hybridmarine.co.ukINTERNET +44 1983 403236work Hybrid Marine has been developing advanced hybrid systems for over ten years. From leisurely inland canal boats to fast offshore sailing catamarans our hybrids have been well proven. Our parallel hybrid is the result of a five year research program and provides an integrated power and propulsion solution for small marine craft. Since 2008 we have been working with Beta Marine UK LTD to provide complete parallel hybrid systems for both inland and offshore craft. Hydrogen Afloat hydrogenafloat.com We make hydrogen fuel cell domestic power systems for boats, enabling those afloat to live off-grid without idling engines or running petrol generators in Winter. Our aim is to start the transition away from carbon-based fuels for the canals and rivers of the UK. We do domestic power now, since that is possible now with portable G20 cylinders. Join us on the canal journey to nett zero. Leoch Battery leochbattery.co.uk sales@leochbattery.co.ukINTERNET 01858 433 330work Leoch is one of the UK’s leading independent battery specialists. Our operations are backed by over 100 years of collective experience in the battery industry, supplying products for an impressive host of applications. Through a direct partnership with our manufacturer and global battery superpower, Leoch Battery PTE, we are at the forefront of battery technologies. We are also delighted to represent US-based lithium-ion battery distributor RELiON Battery. The green energy source of the future can provide up to 10 times the cycles of lead alternatives.   Lynch Motors lynchmotors.co.uk info@lynchmotors.co.ukINTERNET +44 (0) 1404 892940work Established in 1990, we are innovators and leaders in the design and manufacturing of highly efficient and reliable electric motors suitable for marine, vehicle, robotic, industrial, hybrid and traction industry. Mastervolt mastervolt.com info@mastervolt.comINTERNET +31 (0)20 34 22 100work Mastervolt offers integrated electrical systems which generate, store, convert or manage alternating and direct current. We realise this by using high-quality technology in digital switching, energy storage by means of Lithium Ion batteries, and chargers/inverters that are both efficient and user-friendly. All these products communicate in the same language via the MasterBus platform. This ensures that everyone working with a Mastervolt system can always see the right information related to each product in the system. Onboard, at the yard or on remote, system analyses are always easy to perform. This ensures a carefree and reliable electrical power system which enables sailors to enjoy having electricity onboard without any concerns. Netherlands Mothership mothershipmarine.com admin@mothershipmarine.comINTERNET 07496 574 434work Enjoy the inland waterways Solar Electric Boats For The Inland Waterways Innovative Approach • Bespoke Designs Stylish Interiors • Reclaimed Timber We want you to feel the joy of motoring along in near silence and fully present to the natural world; birdsong, buzzing insects and the ripple of the water in the knowledge that you are not costing you or the earth anything. People respond to nature and natural products. Go below into the cabin. Here the majority of timber used is reclaimed, often hundreds of years old. That said, there is nothing old fashioned about our design. It’s fresh and every thought is given to the feeling of space, we make contemporary narrowboats. A range of solar electric and hybrid boats designed for inland waterways. Location: UK Ortomarine ortomarine.co.uk Ortomarine’s goal is to build environmentally friendly boats that both significantly reduce the vessel’s “carbon foot print” and create a quieter, cleaner and more natural boati

    UK electric boat show ‘Electrika’ returns for 3rd successful year

  5. Jun 26

    New kLite kayak fishing electric outboard from ePropulsion

    The silent, clean and precise operation of electric motors has always been attractive to those who like to do their fishing from a kayak, and now ePropulsion has customized their popular eLite outboard to appeal to those who enjoy one of the fastest-growing activities in recreational fishing. Listen to this article as a podcast The new kLite 750 is a ‘rudder style’ electric outboard, where the wide, tapered shaft holding the motor also steers the boat and holds the motor’s integrated 378 Watt hour battery, so there is nothing extra for a kayaker to lug around. The entire unit weighs in at under 15 lbs (6.8 kg). Multiple features for kayak fishers With its specifically designed mounting bracket, the kLite has a number of features kayak fishers will appreciate: Anglers simply snap the motor onto a mounting pin on the kayak, connect the steering lines and cables, and are ready to fish, A spring-tensioned mechanism delivers up to 300W in reverse, ensuring the propeller won’t kick up and spook fish, The mechanism also gives way smoothly if it encounters underwater obstacles, rocks or during manual lifting, The kLine operates in less than seven inches of water (18 cm) and can be adjusted deeper for big water, The rudder design steers even when the throttle is off and the kayak is being propelled by paddle, A separated sun-shaded colour monitor mounts out of the way on the console, deck, or track, so anglers can keep their eyes on the water, The low-profile throttle tucks beside the seat without snagging clothing, The unit includes a grab handle in case the mount blocks the kayak’s existing carry handle. The kLite has plenty of power for moving a kayak, fisher and gear through the water, with three modes available at the tap of a switch. Go Mode delivers 500W continuous power (.75 hp) for general cruising while Sport Burst provides 750W (1 hp) for up to 60 seconds and is great for shooting rapids or to punch through rips. When the fisher has arrived at the waters where they they want to cast or dip a line, Fish Mode provides precise low-end control. “When we showed our original prototype at ICAST (the world’s largest sportfishing trade show), the interest was substantial,” said Tom Watson, president of ePropulsion Americas. “The eLite has already been revolutionary for tenders and small craft, and we are confident that the kLite is going to take kayak anglers to new and exciting places.” Latest of ePropulsion innovations ePropulsion was founded in 2012 by current CEO Danny Tao and fellow students, graduates, faculty and advisers from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. They launched their first motor, the Spirit 1.0, at the METStrade marine industry trade show in 2014, where their brushless, direct-drive technology was the first in the market. Their low power (1 to 6 kiloWatts / ≈3 to 10 hp) Spirit and Navy outboards and pod drives established and built a reputation for high quality and value which the company has built on. Their product line now includes electric propulsion solutions for everything from small dinghies to runabouts, workboats, sailing catamarans and 12 metre (40 ft) ferries. In 2022 they introduced the H-Series range of inboards catering to boatbuilders and the commercial market. The 60-250kW (80 – 350 hp) motors enable vessels between 60 to 100’ (18 to use a battery electric zero emission propulsion system. The I-Series followed, with lower-powered inboards (10 – 40kW / 15 – 55hp) designed for smaller vessels including sailboats, day boats, narrowboats and canal boats. The X-Series introduced in 2023 brought similarly powered outboards to the market: 12, 20 and 40 kW (≈16, 30 and 55 hp). The motors are complemented by ePropulsion’s E-Series and G-Series lines of lithium iron phosphate (LifePo or LFP) batteries that provide exceptional energy density, extended cycle life and increased safety. The modular technology of their eSSA products (ePropulsion Smart System Architecture) enables safe, reliable connection of all components while saving time and reducing complexity. Electric propulsion for just about any boat owner or builder  In 2024 they introduced the eLite rudder style outboard, which has been a major success. The kayak-customized kLite now takes things to the next level with a product aimed at a very specific segment of the boating public. According to the American Sportfishing Association, more than two and a half million anglers in the US fish from kayaks, making up a market worth somewhere between half a billion and 600M dollars (€440M – 525M). Market intelligence firm Ken Research estimates that kayak-designed electric propulsion systems account for about 10% of that with US$50m–70m in annual sales. ePropulsion is now in the position of being one of the global leaders in electric propulsion, with a product range that will be key to the electric transition in the coming years. What they have built is a brand known for quality and innovation that makes it easier and easier for just about any recreational or commercial boat owner – along with new and established boatyards – to have a full electric vessel that reduces noise, carbon and toxic emissions on our waterways and in the air that we breathe. ePropulsion website Shop for ePropulsion products from local dealers in the Plugboats Marketplace Main photo by Richard R on Unsplash The post New kLite kayak fishing electric outboard from ePropulsion appeared first on Plugboats.

    New kLite kayak fishing electric outboard from ePropulsion

  6. Jun 19

    ExploMar high performance electric outboards making international waves: Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, South America…

    With partners and affiliates in over 20 countries already, ExploMar is expanding an impressive international network of dealers, distributors and other partners ready to capitalize on the growing interest around the world in electric water transportation. Working with these partners has also demonstrated that electric outboards can do everything expected of a motor – and then some – with technology that is quieter, cleaner and more economical in the long run. Cruising yachts in Poland, ferries in Nigeria, sport RIBs in Germany, fishing boats in Indonesia –  here’s a short (and incomplete) rundown of the latest vessels equipped with their systems, showing a glimpse of the range of locations and use cases. Listen to this article as a podcast Poland – spacious charter yachts for inland waters In Poland, LAMDO Houseboats charters 10 metre (33 ft) yachts for luxury cruising in the country’s Masurian Lake District, which contains more than 2,000 lakes and was chosen as one of the 28 finalists of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. Their LY30+ Open and LY30+ Fly Trawler models are spacious ‘apartments on the water’ designed by Tony Castro, first released in their fossil fuel version 2023. They have been designed as a C Category vessel in the European classification: yachts intended for coastal cruising and inland waters, able to handle moderately strong winds of up to 27 knots (force 6) and waves reaching two meters (7ft) in height. LAMDO has now built two LY30s outfitted with the ExploMar WAVE 70+ electric outboard system and a third with the larger WAVE 300 system. The companies worked closely together, taking advantage of ExploMar’s experience with other boat builders as a one-stop service covering design, installation, and on-water commissioning. The WAVE 70+ motor has 40 kW continuous power, 80 kW peak (≈ 55 / 108 hp) and an estimated energy consumption of about 1 kiloWatt hour per kilometre (kWh/km) – meaning it has a range of about 60 kilometres with the accompanying 60 kWh capacity ExploMar lithium ion (NMC) battery. The WAVE 300 has continuous power of 150 kW, 225 peak (≈ 205 / 305 hp) and an estimated energy consumption of about 2.5 kWh/km. Systems matched to boating experiences  The LAMBO houseboats are chartered to people with all kinds of differences in how they want to use the boat, and the two ExploMar system provide them with all the options. A beam of 3.5m (11.5 ft) allows plenty of space for friends and family vacations, whether they are covering a long or short distance. With two cabins and four berths as well as room in the salon for two more to sleep, the LY30s can accommodate a total of six overnight passengers – ten during the day. The salon/galley has a folding table and bar with fully equipped kitchen and an open space can be created between cockpit and the salon area for an airy feel. A bathing platform makes swimming and enjoying the water a breeze. The quiet, no fumes ExploMar electric motors and battery system are the ideal companion for any kind of cruising in the Masurian District or any of the other destinations offered by Lamdo. Expect not only Lamdo, but many other builders in the area to start seeing demand for electric as word gets around about the benefits from people enjoying their ‘electric experience’. Nigeria – electric ferries and solar charging Last year Lagos, Nigeria became one of the host cities of the E1 Electric Speedboat Championships, a high profile declaration to the world that the country is serious about a future of safer mobility, climate resilience, and long-term cost efficiency. Read about the 2025 E1 Series race in Lagos Nigeria The city has seen its population swell to over 100 million people in the past few decades and the metropolis is just one of many cities in Africa where commuters are looking for alternatives to chronically congested roads and the pollution, airborne particles and health impacts that go along with them. A 30 km (18 mi.) lagoon winds through Lagos and connects it to the Port of Guinea. ExploMar is part of a team that is executing on a plan for the city that includes up to 70 electric and hybrid ferries and 25 terminals to provide waterbound transport with zero emissions and quieter, more peaceful journeys for all. At the recent CIBS (China International Boat Show), ExploMar signed an agreement with project backer Caverton Offshore Support Group for 20 electric propulsion systems and accompanying 5S energy station chargers. ExploMar and Caverton have spent the past two years developing and testing the system together, with a prototype ferry already operating in Lagos and transporting passengers in a pilot programme. The journey from Ikorodu to Lagos Island, which takes as much as two hours by car or motorcycle, takes about a quarter of that time by electric ferry. The 28-seat, 12-meter (40 ft) vessel – named OMIBUS – brings together a Fibre Reinforced Plastic (FRP) hull and twin ExploMar WAVE 300 electric outboards (see specs above). On a fully loaded cruising range they deliver up to 3 hours at 10–15 knots – the main use case for a passenger ferry – and a maximum speed of 32 knots. Chargers equipped with 300kW solar system The 5S Energy Station is equipped with a 300kW solar system that can generate up to 1500 kWh of electricity in a day. It can fully recharge the ExploMar twin 125 kWh High Energy Density Batteries (HEDB) in one hour and support up to six hours of daily operation. Olabode Makanjuola, CEO of Caverton Offshore Support Group, describes the collaboration as a defining moment for regional transportation. “The future of Nigeria’s waterways is electric,” says Makanjuola. “Cities like Lagos are defined by water, yet millions of residents remain trapped in road congestion while vast waterway networks lie underutilized. Conventional petrol and diesel-powered ferries are costly to operate and increasingly difficult to justify in dense urban environments.” “This partnership sets out to validate an entirely new operating model under real-world conditions. Along with that, ExploMar’s manufacturing scale and systems integration is central to delivering solutions for Lagos and other emerging markets.” Thailand, Germany, Hungary France, Caribbean – new ExploMar Electric Boating Experience outlets As ExploMar has expanded its partnerships and touch points with both boat builders and consumers they’ve learned that getting each to consider an electric outboard requires an understanding that the propulsion is fundamentally different than combustion motors in a lot of ways and requires rethinking some assumptions. Many in the e-boating industry talk of the ‘electric experience’, where people are amazed by how quiet and hard performing electric outboards can be. ExploMar is putting that effect into action with new industry and retail outlets that go beyond what people have come to expect. The philosophy is reflected in the name of their new concept: the ExploMar Electric Boating Experience. The ‘Experience’ idea was first explored in Kuncheng Lake in Changshu, China, where systems are tested and demonstrated in real life operating conditions. More than just another sea trial opportunity, the EEBE gives boaters and builders insights and first hand appreciation of what makes electric propulsion truly different from using exploding fossil fuels to make a vessel go through the water. The first Experience centre outside Changshu is in Bangkok and was developed with local dealer Thai Maritec. It encourages and allows customers to explore ExploMar’s high-performance electric outboards up close. They can ask questions, get answers and get out on the water for real-world usage and detailed follow-up on the practical side of electric boating, including charging and energy management. The questions are an essential part of the Experience. In many standard dealers and marinas, boaters are sometimes reluctant to ask things that they feel might reveal their lack of knowledge about how electric motors and battery systems work. Here, every question is respected and seen as an opportunity to spread the word about e-boating. The idea is to to help customers better understand how the technology could work within their own boating operations. Moving electric boats from being ‘understood’ to being ‘chosen’ “We are building a global user perception network where electric boats are no longer just a trend, but are truly experienced, utilized and validated across different markets and real-world scenarios,” says ExploMar’s CEO Alex Dong. “As global water mobility transitions toward low-carbon and intelligent solutions, this approach provides a clearer pathway for electric boats to move from being ‘understood’ to being ‘chosen’.” As the first ExploMar Electric Boating Experience partner location, the Thai Maritec collaboration is an important learning experience for ExploMar itself to fine tune, enhance and roll out the concept for other markets. In Germany, ExploMar recently announced the appointment of Yacht & Technik as distributor for the country. An Electric Boating Experience outlet is under development for Chiemsee Lake with the first element already in place: a ZAR Formenti 6.5 metre (21 ft) RIB with ExploMar Wave 150+ electric outboard available for test rides. Summer Wind Kft has been appointed exclusive ExploMar distributor for Hungary and their team is actively working with ExploMar on the EEBE that will be an important focal point for a country whose inland waterways, including Lake Balaton, are widely recognized for their strict environmental standards and forward-looking approach to sustainable boating. New ExploMar partner SAS Opensea, part of Vanguard Yachts Group, will be distributor in France and Monaco as well as many Caribbean nations in the Francophony such as Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Barthélemy, and Saint Mart

    ExploMar high performance electric outboards making international waves: Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, South America…

  7. Jun 16

    Will Smith, Tom Brady, LeBron James teams now 1-2-3 in E1 electric speedboat racing

    With a win by Angola Westbrook Racing (owned by actor Will Smith) in Dubrovnik this past weekend, his team now leads the race for the E1 season championship as the sport continues to grow in popularity. Tom Brady’s Team Brady – champion of the first two season – is in second spot followed by Team AlUla Championed by NBA star LeBron James. This is the second year that Croatia’s historic and romantic city has hosted the E1, and the third race of the 2026 series. The Adriatic Luxury Hotels E1 Dubrovnik GP 2026 takes place in the turquoise waters off Old Town, with its medieval walls, copper-green domes and terracotta roofs providing a stunning backdrop to the 21st century electric technology. Listen to this article as a podcast The E1 format has ten teams competing, each owned by well known personalities like Smith, Brady, James, tennis legend Rafael Nadal, multi-Grammy winner Marc Anthony, and others. Each team has a female and male pilot who race in one-design hydrofoiling electric boats – Racebirds – that can hit speeds of 90 kmph (50 knots / 55 mph). Second year for Dubrovnik event The season consists of eight race weekends. Previous to Dubrovnik were Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Lake Como, Italy. Monaco is next up on the calendar (17-18 July), followed by Luada, Angola (12-13 Sep), Lagos, Nigeria (3-4 Oct), Miami, USA (13-14 Nov), and winding up with the crowning of the ‘Champions of the Water” in the Bahamas (Nov 21-22).  Each race weekend has a day of qualifying, then a multi-race day: ‘playoffs’, the finals and consolation ‘place race’. The gender of the pilot of each team alternates throughout each weekend’s races, but there is no ‘women’s race’ and ‘men’s race’, all races have a mix. Before we get to the Dubrovnik event, you can click on one of the two sections below to get an Overview of the Series and/or an explanation of the Rules and Strategies. Overview of the E1 Series, Team Owners, Pilots and the Racebird boat (Click to + expand or – close E1 Series Background) Launched in Jeddah in January 2024, the E1 Series features ten teams racing the one design ‘RaceBird’ all-electric hydrofoiling speedboats at events held in top international ports and waterways. Each team is owned by a noted figure in the worlds of sport, entertainment and business and is led by a female and male pilot who compete in mixed genre races throughout the season. There are no ‘men’s races’ and ‘women’s races’, they are all on equal footing. The goal of the series, aside from deciding ‘The Champions of the Water’, is to publicize and promote cutting-edge clean technologies while helping to protect and restore our planet’s coastal waters and ecosystems. The series was founded by Alejandro Agag and Rodi Basso and is loosely patterned after the on-land Formula 1 and Formula E car events, where the emphasis is on the driver’s capabilities rather than throwing money at technology. In fact, Agag is a founder of the Formula E electric car racing series and Basso worked with Ferrari, Red Bull Racing and McLaren Applied Technologies. The Racebird itself is designed by Sophie Horne of Seabird Technologies. The Sophie Horne. The 7 meter (23 ft) boat has hydrofoiling wings that lift the hull out of the water enabling speeds of up to 90 kmph (50 knots / 55 mph) using a 150 kW (200 brake horsepower) electric outboard system by Mercury Racing and Kreisel batteries. The ten teams and are their owners are: Team Brady: former NFL quarterback Tom Brady Team Rafa: tennis legend Rafael Nadal 
Team Miami: multi-Grammy winner Marc Anthony Team Aoki: DJ / Producer Steve Aoki Team AlUlA: championed by basketball’s Lebron James Team Drogba: Ivory Coast footballer Didier Drogba 
Team Blue Rising: Indian cricketer Virat Kohli Team Sierra: Sierra Enterprises with ambassadors Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid soccer) and Kyle Kuzma (NBA basketball) Team Monaco: Monaco The pilots of the boats come from a wide variety of disciplines. Many, like Sam Coleman and Emma Kimmaläinen of Team Brady, came from powerboating and motorsport racing, but Maxime Nocher of Team Monaco was a kite surfing champion; Team Drogma’s Tara Pacheco was in sailboat racing; Cris Lazarraga of Team Rafa was a jetski racer and Lucas Ordóñez of Westwood first entered real life professional racing by winning a spot in a PlayStation 3 Gran Turismo competition. (»» go back to top to close) Electric Speedboat Series Rules and Strategies (Click to + expand or – close the rules) E1 SERIES: RULES Championship: Ten teams race over 9 weekends, with points awarded for finishing place, along with some bonus points for specific achievements. The Champions of the Water are the team that accumulates most points by the end of the season. Events: Each event is held over two days, usually a Friday and Saturday. Qualifying time trials and races are held on Day One. Day Two has Group Races which decide two of the finalists, the Race Off to determine the other four finalists, the Place Race, and two Finals races – so both the female and male co-pilots of each team help determine the outcome. The Finals and Place Race dictate the Championship Points awarded for each weekend. Points Awarded: Points are awarded for each placing every weekend with the Champion having the most points at the end of the season. 1st: 38  |  2nd: 30 |  3rd: 23 |  4th: 19 |  5th: 15 |  6th: 13 |  7th: 9 |  8th:  8 |  9th: 5 |  10th: 3. Points are also awarded for the three fastest Qualifiers: Fastest: 3  |  2nd: 2 |  3rd: 1. One bonus point is awarded for the fastest lap of the weekend. Photo ©Shiv Gohil Qualifying: There are four Qualifying Stages with teams knocked out to establish the pole positions for Saturday’s races. Qualifying Stage 1: Time Trials in which all 10 teams participate, the results ranked by average of both pilots’ best laps. Bottom 2 teams eliminated. Qualifying Stage 2: Remaining 8 teams in two sessions (groups of 4). Individual timed runs in reverse order, 2 non-consecutive attempts per team. Bottom 2 teams eliminated. Qualifying Stage 3: Remaining 6 teams in two sessions (groups of 3). Same format as Q1. Bottom 2 eliminated. Qualifying Stage 4: Pole Shootout to determines initial Pole Positions on Race Day. Final 4 teams, single 20-minute session. Each completes 2 timed laps in inverted order. Points are awarded toward the Championship total: 3-2-1. Saturday Racing Group Stages: teams divided based on Qualifying results: Group A: 1st, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th Group B: 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 10th The top team from each group advances directly to the Finals. The bottom team from each goes to the Place Race. The teams finishing 2-3-4 in each go to the Race Off. Race Off: Six team single race (only one pilot from each team) with the top four finishers going to the Finals and the bottom two going to the Place Race. Place Race: Two races, one with each team’s pilot, best averaged time. Determines places 7-10 and Championship points. Finals: Two races, one with each team’s pilot, best averaged time. Determines places 1-6 and Championship points. SOME GENERAL RULES: Pilots In every stage except the Group Races and the Race Off both the female and male pilot participate in separate races to determine the winning team of each stage, alternating races throughout the weekend. In the Finals, the finishing order for the first race determines pole position for the second. Laps There is not just one lap length, but three: Short, ‘Normal’ and Long. The distances are tailored to the waters and layout of each location, but are somewhere between 900 m ( ≈ .5 Nm /  .6 mi) and 1700 m ( to ≈ .91 Nm / 1.0 mi). The Qualifying Stages are timed on one Normal lap. The Saturday Races are six laps – one of which must be a Long Lap and one of which must be a Short Lap. Penalties are usually an extra long lap within the six laps, which could add anywhere from 20 to 35 seconds to the overall race time.  Boosts Then there are the boosts. Pilots are allowed to draw extra energy out of the battery – for bursts of speed up to 20 seconds. The catch is that the time it takes to prepare for another boost is twice as long as the boost itself. So, if a pilot takes a boost for 10 seconds they will have to wait for 20 seconds before they can take another. Between the lap lengths and the boosts, there is a LOT of strategy involved, and the pilots are in constant contact with ‘Mission Control’ back at the dock. General Strategy Aside from the boosting and lap strategies, the overriding goal is to find clean water. The RaceBirds travel fastest when they are flying above the water on their foils. The boats need to be balanced both across the beam and along the length for optimum performance and waves – either natural or from the other boats – makes it tougher to stay on foil. That not only slows the pilot down but also requires extra power to get back up out of the water and onto the foils. END OF RULES (»» go back to top to close) Coming into Dubrovnik, Smith’s Westbrook Angola Team had only won in one locale: Italy’s Lake Como – the only freshwater event on the circuit. The most recent victory was a month ago and the first was two years before that. Pilots Lucas Ordóñez and Sara Price were sitting on top of the standings for the first time coming into Dubrovnik, but it was a slim lead. Just three points separated them from Emma Kimiläinen and Sam Coleman of Team Brady, another three from the team owned by DJ/Producer Steve Aoki (Dani Clos and Sara Misir), and seventeen from James’ AlUla team of Nerea Martí and Rusty Wyatt. Expectations were high for a thrilling weekend. The waters off Dubrovnik’s Old Town may be beautiful but they are deceptively challenging for the Racebirds, which travel fastest when their hydrofoiling wings are evenly balanced at the same h

    Will Smith, Tom Brady, LeBron James teams now 1-2-3 in E1 electric speedboat racing

  8. Jun 10

    India’s leading solar electric ferry builder delivers first boat to North America

    Navalt, one of the planet’s solar boat pioneers, has made a big leap in its mission to ‘electrify the oceans’ with one of its Limo luxury tour boats being shipped 12.703 kilometres (7,893 mi) from Kerala, India to Halifax, Canada, where it will join Halifax Harbour Tours Listen to this article as a podcast Navalt was founded in 2009 by naval architect Sandith Thandassery, who has dedicated his career to revolutionizing water transport through clean energy. The first boat built by the company – Sunrider – made the Limca Book of Records – the reference book documenting world records held by Indians – for the fastest solar boat ever built. Solar electric ferry won first Gustave Trouvé Awards In 2017 he led the design and building of Aditya, India’s first solar electric ferry, which carries about a half million passengers per year – over 4 million since its launch –  saving about 225,000 litres of diesel fuel and over 500,000 kilograms of CO2 emissions (about 1.25M pounds). The Aditya was a winner of the first Gustave Trouvé Electric Boat Awards in 2020 and Navalt repeated its win in the 2024 Awards for the Srav solar-electric workboat. Read more about the Aditya solar electric ferry The company is India’s leading building of solar electric ferries and has now built over 80 boats that are serving passengers in places like popular Sukhna Lake at the foothills of the Himalayas. In all, the company offers 18 models – workboats, leisure boats, defence boats, water taxis and ferries – none of which has or will ever burn a single drop of fossil fuel. At about the same time the Aditya was launched, Colin Smith was on the other side of the world starting Halifax Harbour Tours with a former British Thames River tow barge with quite a history. Bought by a tour operator in Puerto Rico who had a 40 hp diesel motor installed, it later took visitors around the Florida Everglades before the famous Airboats took over that business, was retired after doing  duty as a Lake Erie tourist boat and was found by Smith in a barn nearby. London Thames barge to Canadian e-tour boat He had been the captain of a diesel tour boat in Halifax harbour and longed for something without the fumes and noise — friendlier to the environment, himself and the passengers. He knew the ultra-efficient hull of the barge would be perfect for electric propulsion, so he switched out the diesel for an 8kW Lynch axial flux motor with 7kWh battery, added a solar roof and restored the rest of the boat – the Violet Mac – to its original Thames glory and beyond. Halifax Harbour Tours was born in 2018 and has been going strong ever since. “When we first started, our ‘fuel costs’ were about 60¢ a day.” he told me. “They’re not an awful lot more now, but the thing isn’t the cost for me, it’s the passenger experience. It’s quiet, there’s only 8 people on board, and the Guides are told to let people know about all of the historic sites in the harbour, but not get in the way of the passengers having a chance to talk among themselves and get to know each other. We often get reviews with people saying it’s the best experience they had on their visit to Canada.” There was only one thing that could be improved: the notoriously fickle and wildly variable Halifax weather. Smith couldn’t do anything about that, but he could do something about a boat that would be able to operate year round and also provide some shelter for those who don’t like a little ‘liquid sunshine’ on their tours. Enter Navalt. Smith saw Navalt and some of its boats on Plugboats and decided to get in touch with Thandasherry about getting one of the totally covered solar electric ferries. They decided on the Limo. We’ll let Sandith take it from here. This is from his personal blog: Navalt Crosses the Atlantic: Our First Boat Lands in North America There are projects that move a business forward, and then there are projects that redraw the map. For us, shipping a Limo to Halifax, Canada is firmly the second kind. It is our first vessel headed to North America — and it travelled there in a way no Navalt boat has before: as a knock-down kit, packed flat into five containers, ready to be reborn on Canadian shoreline. Why we shipped a boat in pieces A 10-metre catamaran does not slide neatly into a shipping container. So instead of moving the boat, we moved the boat’s anatomy. This was also our attempt to work closely with our boatbuilding parter while lowering the logistics cost of the project. The Limo was carefully designed for disassembly and split into modules sized to fit standard FEU containers (Forty Foot Equivalent Units): Two hulls, separated and cradled for transit The deck, broken down into sections The superstructure, divided into three pieces to clear the FEU envelope A dedicated outfitting container carrying the battery system and the remaining fit-out items Five containers in total. This knock-down approach is what makes long-haul export of a premium vessel both economical and practical — and it is a capability we are proud to have proven on our very first North American shipment. Built for the Canadian cold Halifax is not Kerala. A boat that performs beautifully in tropical backwaters has to be re-engineered to survive — and thrive — through an Atlantic Canadian winter. The heart of that adaptation is the energy system. This Limo carries a 2 × 20 kWh marine-grade LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery pack, but with a crucial difference: each pack is fitted with an integrated heating system designed specifically to manage the cold conditions of Halifax. Lithium batteries lose performance and charging ability in low temperatures, so keeping the cells in their optimal thermal window through a harsh winter isn’t a luxury — it’s what allows the boat to run reliably, season after season. Driving the vessel are two 15 kW (≈ inboard electric motors, configured with Navalt’s signature independent dual battery-and-motor architecture. That redundancy means a single fault never leaves you stranded on the water — a reassurance that matters as much in a Canadian harbour as it does anywhere. A premium boat, by design The Limo has always been our answer to a simple question: what if luxury on the water didn’t have to mean noise, fumes, and fuel bills? It is a premium solar-electric leisure boat built for private cruising — couch-style seating, generous interior space for gatherings, and the kind of silent, vibration-free ride that only electric propulsion can deliver. At 10 metres long and 3.5 metres wide, this Halifax boat keeps all of that character while being purpose-built for its new home waters. Clean lines, a stable catamaran hull, and refined interiors — the Limo’s identity travels intact, even when the boat itself travels in pieces. Integration is underway Right now, on the ground in Halifax, under the guidance of Colin Smith and his team, those five containers are becoming a boat again. The hulls are being joined, the deck and superstructure reassembled, and the battery and outfitting items integrated into the vessel. It is painstaking, precise work — and watching a kit transform back into a sleek, water-ready cruiser is genuinely one of the most satisfying things to witness in our line of work. A landmark for Navalt This is more than a delivery. It is the first time a Navalt boat has reached North America, the first time we have exported a premium vessel as a fully engineered knock-down kit, and the first time we have adapted our energy systems for a genuinely cold-climate environment. Each of those is a milestone on its own. Together, they mark a real step-change in what Navalt can build and where we can take it. From the backwaters of Kerala to the harbours of Halifax, the mission stays the same: oceans, electrified. We can’t wait to see this one on the water. We expect to launch in July. Click on the links below to find out more about the Navalt Limo or book a cruise on Halifax Harbour Tours’ new boat or the Violet Mac Navalt  Halifax Harbour Tours The post India’s leading solar electric ferry builder delivers first boat to North America appeared first on Plugboats.

    India’s leading solar electric ferry builder delivers first boat to North America
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Everything electric boats and boating

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  • Creator
    Plugboats
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Plugboats