Boats
Car companies electrifying the waves
Carmakers are getting serious about putting their electric propulsion systems into a new breed of yachts
Car companies have long dabbled in the yachting game, mainly by applying their design philosophies to anything from speedboats to medium-sized luxury yachts. In recent years we’ve seen Lamborghini, Brabus, Lexus and Mercedes-AMG appear on vessels, and now electrification is adding a new dimension.
Traditionally, yachts have been powered by engines from truck manufacturers such as MAN and Scania, or by outboards from the likes of Yamaha, but automakers are seeing a new opportunity and supplying their battery and electric motor technology to yacht builders.
The most recent to join the electric regatta is Porsche, which this week announced a partnership with Austrian shipyard Frauscher. From 2024 they plan to build 25 Frauscher x Porsche 850 Fantom Air yachts. Measuring 8.67 meres and based on an existing Frauscher yacht, they will feature a helm stand designed by Studio Porsche, though the collaboration goes much deeper than the design.
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Conceived by BMW’s Designworks, The Icon looks more like a water shuttle than a yacht, but it is packed with tech and luxury. It rises from the water on hydrofoils to use less power to slice through the water and create fewer waves. The exterior design replicates a prism with vast glass surfaces that not only provide plenty of visibility, but also make the interior as airy as possible.
Inside is a large lounge area with thick carpets and furniture made from metal sheeting. All the seats can rotate 360° and the vessel has a premium sound system created in part by famous movie soundtrack composer, Hans Zimmer.
Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied
That includes a 69kWh battery pack from the Polestar 2 to provide a range of up to 105km. The electric motor is Candela’s own, producing 75kW and enabling a cruising speed of 22 knots. Priced from $450,000, the C-8 Polestar is available as an open day cruiser, a T-top or with a carbon fibre hardtop featuring a retractable roof.
These all showcase actual or planned boats, but US automotive giant General Motors plans to retrofit older vessels with its Ultium battery architecture. It might be the huge and heavy Hummer EV that grabs the headlines, but GM has approached its electric so that components can be dropped into a classic car or even a boat.
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When we visited the GM development facility in Milford, Michigan, last year we saw the electric drive units and modular battery packs placed in some iconic GM products such as the El Camino bakkie, but GM wants to see its powered solutions in trains, airports vehicles and recreational boats.
Converting classic cars to electric is becoming big business around the world, and doing the same for boats would make them silent zero emitters and maintenance would be reduced.