EV boats increasingly powerful, rangy and luxurious
Electricity-powered vessels – including three from Canada – are becoming increasingly quick, powerful, rangy and luxurious
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One of Canada’s oldest cities has suddenly become a hotspot for cutting-edge electric boat technology.
Last fall, the Confederation Basin Marina in downtown Kingston, Ont., was introduced as the new home of Canada’s first public marine electric vehicle (MEV) supercharger, which at the time was also the fastest in North America, according to manufacturer Voltari Electric, which is based in Merrickville, Ont.
The yellow obelisk’s inaugural customer, meanwhile, was Voltari’s inaugural vessel, the 260, which launched in the same marina three months earlier as the first Canadian-made e-speedboat to hit the open market.
“This technology takes away so many bad things and just leaves all the best parts of being a recreational boater,” says Voltari CEO Cam Heaps. “No more lining up for the fuel pumps at the marina. No more fuel spills and oil leaks fouling the waterways. No more smoke and loud engines – just the sound of the water on the hull. You can have a normal conversation with the person next to you while running [the 260].”
The Kingston unveilings were notable milestones on the road toward the electrification of pleasure boats, which compared to automobiles emit more than twice the amount of greenhouse gases per kilometre travelled.
Yet they remain more symbolic than practical. According to Confederation Basin Marina staff, only a single vessel is scheduled to use the Voltari charger during the summer of 2023. As it stands, the vast majority of Canadian e-boat owners charge their craft at home.
But that may soon change, given the profusion of the increasingly quick, powerful, rangy and luxurious e-boats explored below.
Voltari 260
Aft of its sleek carbon-fibre hull, a 740-horsepower electric motor propels this 26-foot speedster across the waves at a top speed of 112 km/h. It takes about an hour, and costs less than $20, to fully charge the 260’s 160kWH lithium-ion battery pack using the Kingston charger, at which point boaters can cover 100 nautical miles before having to plug in again.
High-end aesthetic and audio features include a Poco lighting system, a marine stereo from Rockford Fosgate, a heat-dissipating Alcantara hand-stitched interior, a custom Voltari SeaDek and twin 17-inch Garmin touchscreens.
Fantail 217, Vision Marine Technologies
The elegantly canopied Fantail is at the other end of the boating spectrum from Vision Marine’s experimental V32 powerboat, which recently shattered the e-boat speed record by crossing the Lake of the Ozarks at 175.4 km/h.
The Montreal-based company’s longest and roomiest electric cruiser can carry as many as 10 passengers at a top speed of just under 10 km/h, with its 6-horsepower engine fuelled by batteries that need recharging only every 12 hours.
Eelex 8000, X Shore
Modelled and named after the streamlined shape of an eel, this 26-foot, centre-console sport boat was purpose-built to handle Sweden’s unpredictable coastal waters. Its 4-foot, 8-inch bow keeps water from coming aboard, and its maximum range of 100 nautical miles and a top speed of 55-plus km/h ensures that destinations are reached quickly and promptly.
The Eelex 8000 blends business with pleasure by including premium speakers from Bowers and Wilkins, a high-mounted watersports hook, and a 24-inch screen by the console that eases navigation, monitoring and steering.
Boesch 710 Ascona de Luxe
Crafted by Switzerland’s iconic Boesch motorboat company, the Ascona de Luxe combines tasteful esthetics with top-shelf materials and an electric V8 engine. The runabout accommodates up to seven passengers for everything from leisurely cruises to waterskiing at speeds of up to 70 km/h.
Boesch’s “Horizon Gliding” hull technology ensures a smooth and stable ride even at lower speeds, with an integrated retractable shade and four high-fidelity speakers making sound and light easily adjustable.
Vita Lion
Powered by Vita Power’s all-electric V4 propulsion system, the U.K. company’s first full-production electric day boat cruises at up to 22 knots with a top speed of more than 35 knots. The Lion can accommodate up to eight passengers in a roomy cockpit that can be converted to a dining area.
In addition to a sun pad, shower and swimming ladder, the 10.5-metre-long Lion features an enclosed cabin with a daybed, toilet and sink.
Silent 80, Silent Yachts
Five years after the Silent 64 became the first solar-powered production yacht to cross the Atlantic, its 80-foot successor is upping the ante with roof-mounted solar panels that join forces with a lithium battery and generator to deliver a top speed of 30 km/h and unlimited range.
Four luxurious cabins include ensuite bathrooms, with more comfort and convenience provided by high-efficiency air conditioning, a side-by-side fridge/freezer with ice cube maker, and a rigid sunroof over the flybridge.
Tahoe 14’ Electric Boat, Beau Lake
Another Canadian entrant in the MEV market, the 14-foot Tahoe is undeniably evocative of Ontario cottage country. It won’t win many races, what with its Torqeedo electric motor achieving a top speed of six knots, but details such as a hand-carved mahogany tiller, marine grade upholstered seats, a removable two-compartment cooler and charcuterie board, and mirror-polished stainless-steel castings and hardware bring plenty of style and savoir-faire to the table. The moulded fiberglass hull, meanwhile, makes the Tahoe easy to haul and launch.
Dasher Electric, Hinckley Yachts
This minimalist day boat may be relatively short on show, but it goes like the wind — up to 22 knots — thanks to twin 80-horsepower Torqeedo electric inboard motors powered by BMW i3 lithium-ion batteries.
Combine this with a 28-foot carbon-epoxy composite hull adorned with carbon stringers, 3D printed titanium hardware and a single do-everything touchscreen, and it’s no wonder the Dasher Electric is being heralded as “the Tesla of the Seas.” On that note …
Tesla Model Y Yacht
When Bangalorean designer Dhruv Prasad posted renderings of the Model Y in 2017 and dubbed it Tesla’s next major project, the online buzz was deafening — and not just because of the futuristic e-yacht’s $700-million price tag. The 131-foot-long tiered vessel is said to feature two fuel sources: A pair of solar-powered lithium batteries, and a hydroelectric turbine that turns waves into energy.
Two jaw-dropping bedrooms, a jacuzzi, clever convertible furniture and eye-catching LED lighting have only added to the Model Y’s mystique. Trouble is, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has no official connections to the project, and has never publicly backed it. So for now, at least, mystique is all there is to the Model Y.
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