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The 17th edition of the International Multihull Show is set to take place April 22-26. A record number of boats with electric and hybrid propulsion are taking part. The show, at La Grande-Motte on France’s Mediterranean coast, demonstrates not just that multihulls have become one of the fastest-growing segments in global boating, but also how more and more boat builders and owners are embracing fossil-fuel-free (FFF) propulsion. In fact, 16 of the 80 exhibiting boats – 20% – are available with electric or hybrid as an option. Listen to this article as a podcast Multihulls partner especially well with electric and hybrid for a couple of reasons. The first is that two or three smaller hulls have less drag and are more efficient than monohulls, requiring less energy to move through water. The second is that the wider beams deliver larger surface areas for solar integration – with the bonus of more living space! Also Multihull Of The Year Awards As the name suggests, there are no monohulls at the Show, only catamarans and trimarans – both sail and power – and of course other manufacturers and retailers associated with the boat industry such as motors and sailmakers. The show is also the home of the annual Multihull of the Year Awards (MOTY). Both the show and awards are presented by the Multihulls World magazine and website. In this Plugboats Guide to Electric Boats Exhibitors we highlight some of the boats available with electric and hybrid propulsion – including those that are Finalists in the MOTY Awards – as well as some exhibiting electric motor companies. With those 16 exhibiting multihulls and 10 MOTY Finalists, this is by far the most ‘electrified’ version of the show. There are also five electric motor companies with booths at La Grande-Motte along with three electrified RIB tenders and one electric jetski. Directory of Electric Boat Exhibitors at the International Multihull Show 2026 Selected boats and motors are highlighted further below. Click to Open   +   or  –  Close a Directory of all electric exhibitors. Click any tile for company information and links. Aquila aquilaboats.com [email protected] Aquila Sail Catamarans Great sailing adventures begin with great boats. Aquila’s new sailing catamaran fleet—the 44, 50, and 63 Sail—delivers thoughtful design that maximizes space, functionality, cruising comfort, and quality. Every detail matters when you’re living aboard, from our innovative fixed bow for entertaining and relaxing, to your choice of diesel or whisper-quiet Hybrid Ocean Drive to match your cruising style. Inside, panoramic windows frame nature’s theater while spacious salons and galleys become your command center. Choose from 4, 5, or 6 cabin configurations, each with private entrances that preserve personal sanctuary. Bridge-to-bow access allows quick and easy access from the flybridge to the foredeck cockpit, while generous interiors provide genuine comfort during extended passages. Whether pursuing private ownership or charter opportunities, these catamarans offer the quality and cruising excellence Aquila is renowned for with innovations that elevate your sailing experience. Where will the wind take you? AST Yachts & Composites ast-yachts.com [email protected] +49 331 / 70455690work Cataruga cataruga.com At Cataruga, we believe in a different way of experiencing the sea. Our ambition: to put freedom, simplicity, and respect for life back at the heart of sailing. Founded by Jean Sommereux, engineer and sailor, Cataruga was born from a dream: to create a catamaran that was robust, elegant and durable, designed not for raw performance, but for the pleasure of living on the water. Switzerland / Tunisia E-NAV Systems e-navsystems.com +33 7 49 66 80 88work ELECTRIC / HYBRID INSTALLATIONS AND NAUTICAL PROPULSION SYSTEMS eNAV SYSTEMS is a design company that specializes in providing propulsion and green energy solutions for boats: electric and hybrid engines, hydro-generation, photovoltaic or wind power production… We equip different types of boats: pleasure or racing sailboats, motorboats, charteryatchs, passenger boats, workboats, dinghies. We design electric or hybrid motor solutions by choosing the best of the current technology in order to offer optimal navigation performances and comfort on board. We select our suppliers among the best brands. Location: Grand Motte, France Earthling earthlingethos.com EPTechnologies eptechnologies.dk [email protected] +49 40 3348 24 76work EPTechnologies is a complete marine propulsion provider for electric and hybrid vessels. We guide the customers through the process of turning dreams into real hybrid and electric vessels with the use of the finest quality that makes economical sense. With us you get all out of one hand, from our in-house lithium-ion batteries, DC-generators and sail /shaft or Z / Jet drives and it’s all controlled by our own trust

Tucked away among the superyachts of the 2026 Palm Beach Boat Show was the ENVGO NV1, a 26 foot electric hydrofoiling leisure boat that impressed with its speed, range and striking design. Long before drones were making headlines in war zones, a group of engineers in the Canadian tech hub of Waterloo, just outside Toronto, was developing early UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) that incorporate artificial intelligence, autonomous flight control and robotics. Listen to this article as a podcast The drones were designed for things like high danger industrial inspections and disaster zone assistance. They needed to have 100% reliability in every kind of weather and terrain condition. Operator training time couldn’t always be assured. So the drones had to be not just ‘smart’, but also easy and instinctive to use. Those are exactly the kinds of technologies and attributes needed for a high performance electric hydrofoiling leisure boat and the migration of that pioneering drone work to the new ENVGO NV-1 is one of the things that go into making the boat’s debut so impressive. Reliable, smart, easy to use The six co-founders of ENVGO all worked together developing that UAV technology at Aeryon Labs, which was sold in 2019 for about $200M. For techie types out there, it is the system behind the Teledyne FLIR SkyRanger R70. Mike Peasgood, co-founder of Aeryon and now CEO of ENVGO, grew up sailing, windsurfing and fishing and just loved being out on the water. He also loved fast, high performance automobiles, but not their combustion engines. When electric cars came along he was excited to see them bring instant torque, super low maintenance and ease of use to drivers and – like many others now in the electric boat world – he kept looking for the boat that would offer those same features and benefits. After the drone company was sold, he had time to seriously think about how to solve the problem of getting a clean tech solution on the water. He suggested to some of the core Aeryon team that the marine space might be a good area for applying their talents and experience to develop the next new and exciting thing. 10 times more power to push a boat through water While none of them were really ‘boat people’, they were engineers and problem solvers who, as Mike says “like a challenge and like building really cool technology that doesn’t exist in the world. This was a really cool challenge, and the other huge driver was the idea of creating a better future where we could bring a clean tech solution to the industry, help clean up our lakes and rivers.” Taking the classic engineering approach, the first step was analyzing whether there was an opportunity to build a technology solution that solves a real problem. The real problem is the physics that face all electric marine propulsion: it takes about 10 times as much power to push a boat through water as it does to push a car through air. For slower boats that is not necessarily an issue, but for high performance boats it is a significant challenge. An obvious solution – especially if you come from the world of making things fly – is to take the hull out of the water and have it travel through the air. That’s hydrofoiling. And it uses about a quarter the energy of a traditional boat. The assignment was perfect for the drone engineers. As Mike says, “It’s not a marine design challenge. It’s an aerospace design challenge. It was right in their sweet spot.” The team started by building a small proof of concept boat, about the same size as their UAVs – one metre (three feet) long. They were looking at adapting the Aeryon technology and figuring out the differences between being in the water versus being in the air. Next came a 3.6m (12 ft) single person hydrofoiler, which is when their drone technology started to come to the fore, ready for modification. Hydrofoiling an aerospace challenge, not marine A hydrofoiling boat is similar to a quadrotor (four propeller) drone like the ones Aeryon developed. They both have a strong tendency to flip upside down if left to their own devices. Mike explained to me that traditional small planes are actually quite stable. If you let go of the controls that determine the pitch (front to back level) and roll (side to side level), they will still basically stay on course and you only have to control the altitude. “But with a quadrotor drone – or hydrogoiling boat – you need a real time flight controller in there, a piece of hardware that is measuring the roll and pitch of the vehicle all the time, and updating the controls really, really quickly.” Like 250 times a second quickly. That, in turn, requires sensors. There’s a unit inside the boat that works in conjunction with accelerometers and gyroscopic sensors that are identifying how quickly things are rolling and pitching in the orientation of the boat. Outside the boat, radar sensors measure the height of the hull above the surface while sonar sensors measure the depth o

Network operator Aqua superPower and EV charger manufacturer Hellonext have announced a strategic and synergistic alliance that will accelerate the growth of high speed electric boat charging throughout Europe and beyond. Aqua superPower already manages the operations of 50+ high speed DC chargers in Sweden, France, Portugal, Spain, Monaco Italy, the UK and US. That includes charging corridors along the Mediterranean’s French/Italian Riviera and England’s South Coast. Listen to this article as a podcast Hellonext, internationally recognized for its advanced DC technology, manufactures a range of 10 commercial and residential EV chargers and battery energy storage systems. It has multiple DC marine installations already operating in Spain. The partnership combines Hellonext’s best-in-class charging hardware with Aqua superPower’s fully integrated digital operating ecosystem designed specifically for marine use. It also reflects the companies’ shared enthusiasm for and commitment to accelerating a European and global transition to electric marine transportation. The world of electric charging – both for land and water transport – is a bit of an alphabet soup of initials that needs some explanation, so bear with me. What we call a charger, or a charging station, is known in the industry as a Charge Point, so the company that operates a charge point (or a bunch of them) is called a CPO – Charge Point Operator. The front end and back end of electric boat charging Each charge point requires a system to manage the energy going in an out, which involves the handling of both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) electricity in various voltages, from low to extremely high. That system is called the Charge Point Management System (CPMS). Most people don’t use the same charge point all the time for their EVehicle or EBoat, so they usually rely on the services of a company that makes things more convenient and streamlined, particularly for payment and reporting on things like how much electricity was transferred at what time. The company that enables and manages those kinds of interactions is called an eMobility Service Provider – EMSP. In the background, the EMSP coordinates with the CPMS (which coordinates with the CPO), your credit card company and maybe other things – like your vehicle or boat – using a Subscriber Identification Module – SIM, like the SIM card on your phone. That assures that every part of the system knows it is you that is using the services. Part of what the EMSP has to do, of course, is make sure that everything can be connected wirelessly and securely from places like marinas and ports. In some cases it may even monitor the state of charge in your electric boat while it’s out on the water. Aqua superPower is a combination of all those things: CPO, CPMS and EMSP. In fact, being all of those things is what makes them attractive to places like marinas and ports. The marina or port only needs to be a location for the charge point. Aqua oversees the installation and coordination with the charge point manufacturer, electric grid and utilities, then manages all of the electricity interactions along with the payment to the utilities and collecting the payment from the end user. Aqua also manages all repairs and maintenance. The marina or port (which does not want to be concerned with any of that!) simply gets a percentage of the revenue. The only thing Aqua doesn’t do is manufacturer the actual charge points, which is where Hellonext comes in. Hellonext has already proven in Spain that they can design and build the hardware necessary to charge things that move on the water. And Aqua’s international network, with charge points from other manufacturers located everywhere from bustling seaports to remote lakeside marinas, has proven that their system can manage the rest, with its global network consistently achieving over 98% uptime. Aqua superPower and Hellonext integrate seamlessly Going forward, Hellonext’s advanced AC and DC charging systems will be seamlessly integrated into Aqua superPower’s backend platform. Aqua will manage end-to-end operations, including remote monitoring, dynamic load balancing, billing, roaming, maintenance coordination, and 24/7 customer support.   One other benefit Aqua superPower brings to the party is the other end of the wire – the hardware and software that goes in the boats themselves. Connectors and systems for electric boats are all compatible with every level of standard EV charging, but there are things that need to be addressed to optimize them and make them safe and trouble-free for marine use. Aqua is already working with and trusted by dozens of electric boat and motor manufacturers as well as combustion boat manufacturers looking at electric possibilities. Hellonext, for their part, is a division of the Petrotec group, which started 40 years ago building fossil fuel filling stations and has more than 200,

Plugboats WAVES (Watts, Amps, Volts, Electrons) is a regular collection of electric boat and boating news items that we have written about before and are updating, or items we are going to write about but are waiting for more information / developments – or items that are just tidbits you might find interesting. Here is WaVeS #29, with electric boat and boating news about: Princeton world speed record holders test at Lake X New electric trimarans for silent, sustainable Arctic cruising Entries open for Polyboat Challenge II E1 Series adds second Africa race to fill 2026 schedule Candela hydrofoiling ferries secure funding to meet rising global demand Winners of French Electric Boat Association Annual Awards China’s Asia Yacht Show adds Expo with electric/hybrid/green focus Check out all of the WaVeS e-boat news collections Listen to this article as a podcast Student world record holders take new electric speedboat to legendary testing waters Princeton University’s Princeton Electric Speedboating team (PES) has completed a series of tests of their latest cutting-edge electric hydroplaning boat – the Eagle 1 – at Mercury Racing’s storied high-performance marine proving waters, Florida’s Lake X. In October of 2024 PES set the certified world electric speed record of 114.20 miles per hour (184.79 kph, 99.24 knots) and they are hoping that the expertise and experience of Mercury Racing can help them set a new one with Eagle 1. Mercury has been crucial to fossil fuel powerboat racing for decades, and also works with both the E1 Series and new Formula 60 electric speedboat racing championships. For the Princeton team, testing at Lake X provides a controlled environment with a mountain of historical data along with on-site safety, rescue and technical support. Read: New Formula 60 electric speedboat racing circuit Eagle 1, the 16.5 foot (5 m) all-electric hydroplane has been designed and built by PES in conjunction with JW Myers from Black Sheep Racing. Carbon fibre decks span the entirety of the 7.5 foot wide (2.1m) vessel. The powertrain is designed to reach over 220 kW (300 hp) of power and has two battery modules, each rated at 356.4 V nominal (388.8 V maximum). Evan Callas, President of Princeton Electric Speedboating said “The experience at Lake X gave us a rare opportunity to validate our electric propulsion system in a world-class environment while pushing performance limits.” The goal for gauging the boat’s capabilities is sustained speeds above 145 mph (235 kph / 126 kts) for up to one minute, although the official 1 kilometre run should only take about 20 seconds. The test session at Lake X, with pilot John Peeters at the helm, successfully represented the vessel’s first operations at these target speeds. The team is aiming to go for a new record later this year. Princeton PES website Electric trimarans receive classification to grow sustainable Arctic tourism opportunities For the past six years Brim Explorer’s electric and hybrid catamarans have provided silent, sustainable cruises on some of Norway’s most beautiful and environmentally delicate fjords. A popular tourist attraction that is among the World’s Top 50 Travel Adventures, the cruises have also been testing grounds for a next generation of electric trimarans purpose-built for conditions in both the fjords and Arctic open seas. The vessels have been developed by Brim Tech, the technology arm of Brim Explorer, and incorporate lightweight structures and a highly optimized hull developed by WIND Naval Architects to minimize energy consumption. Each vessel can accommodate up to 180 passengers. A single charge is expected to provide a range of approximately 100 nautical miles at 20 knots. (185 km at 37 kph / 115 mi at 23 mph). The new ships have been given the blessing of classification society Bureau Veritas, important for large vessels because it certifies that new technologies are integrated safely and reliably. It matters for things like insurance and therefore investment and acceptance by government agencies and large tourism and travel companies. It also adds verifiable credibility to large scale electric and hybrid propulsion as a whole. David Barrow, SVP for Western Europe and Americas at BV, said the project highlights the growing momentum behind electric propulsion in maritime transport. “Bureau Veritas is delighted to partner in bringing these advanced trimarans to life and supporting the safe integration of advanced technologies for sustainable maritime solutions. ” Espen Larsen-Hakkebo, CTO & Co-founder of Brim Explorer, said: “The new trimarans represent the next step in our ‘electric by design’ approach. After six years of operating our boats in tough conditions in Northern Norway and Oslo, we are now able to confidently and excitedly develop a new generation of high-speed, long-range, zero-emission boats.” Brim Explorer Entries open for second Polyboat Challenge Entries are open for the second Polybo

Two global leaders in their fields – McConaghy Yachts and ZeroJet – have come together to launch a new company and new electric jet tender with some game-changing features. McConaghy, founded in 1969, has built many legendary, breakthrough boats over the years that include foiling monohulls, international regatta-winners and show-stopping superyachts. ZeroJet started life in 2014 developing an e-motor for powered surfboards. In 2019 they became one of the first companies in the world to develop electric jet propulsion for boats. Listen to this article as a podcast A new corporate entity – MC-ZERO – fuses the names, expertise and DNA of the two companies and will launch its first model – the MC-ZERO 450 electric jet tender – at the Palm Beach International Boat Show on March 25. Electric jet tender maximizes space Chris Baird, CEO of MC-ZERO, says the engineers and designers started with a totally clean sheet and free rein to throw out the compromises that have had to be built-in to many fossil fuel tenders. That allowed them to create, in Baird’s words, “a boat that adapts to the user, rather than the other way around,” and one that maximizes space with smart functionality. A quick glance at the MC-ZERO 450 leads to the impression that it is a RIB – Rigid Inflatable Boat, but closer inspection reveals that it is actually a carbon hull. The rigid carbon construction has straight inside walls and an integrated outer fender system so that the contour of inflatable pontoons doesn’t take away valuable interior space. The company says the result is “a structurally superior vessel that is lighter, stronger, and maintains its premium finish throughout its lifetime —no inflation or maintenance required”. Those straight walls also allow for flip seats along the sides of the interior. The next obvious thing that sets the new electric jet tender apart is a world-first (and patent pending) ‘moveable helm’ that can be fixed in one of three positions: aft, mid or foredeck. That makes for a modular-type design with huge flexibility. You can slide the helm forward and flip up the seats to clear the deck for a kayak, boards, skis or dive gear, or move it back and flip down the seats to create a social, open-plan for up to eight passengers. When you combine those features with the fact that the electric jet propulsion system is entirely below deck and there are no outboard motors or engine boxes, the overall space savings are big. MC-ZERO says internal volume for the 4.55 metre / ≈ 15 ft boat is 40% greater than on similar-sized traditional RIBs. It also allows for a complete flow-through layout, and MC-ZERO have added a couple of nice touches. At the bow, unfolding electric drop-down steps make getting in and out easier when landing on a beach or in shallow waters. At the stern, there is a transom platform that extends the deck for a wider, more stable surface at water level. Both are deployed with the touch of a button. Twin electric jets add versatility  As for the electric jet propulsion itself, ZeroJet is a company that has taken the lead in this segment of electric propulsion. They offer three motor systems of varying power and battery capacity: 15 kW (≈ 20 hp), 22 kW (≈ 30 hp) and 30 kW (≈ 40 hp). The systems are already integrated into a number of boats from builders that include Highfield, AB Inflatables, Agilis, and others. Similar content: Williams electrifies EvoJet 70  The MC-450 has two of the  30 kW motors and total battery capacity of just over 32 kiloWatt hours, enabling a top speed of 25 knots (46 kph / 29 mph) and a range of 27 nautical miles (50 km / 30 mi) when cruising at 5 knots (9 kph / 6 mph). Those specs make the boat suitable for just about anything a tender is asked to do: quickly transfer guests to and from shore, slowly explore shallow waters, get out to deep waters and  anchor as a dive boat, or anything in between. The near silent operation and zero emissions of electric propulsion is another bonus, appreciated not just by those in the boat, but also fish and other aquatic creatures nearby. The twin jets allow for navigation in the shallowest of waters and precise low-speed manoeuvring in tight spaces. The 48V semi solid state batteries from SAFIERY are a significant feature of the MC-ZERO system and offer significant benefits. Compared to standard li-ion chemistries, semi solid state is less prone to safety problems and can store more energy by weight. The battery pack has a 5 year warranty and expected life of 10,000+ charge and discharge cycles. In addition, the 48 volt architecture is ‘safe-to-touch’, meaning anyone working on the boat does not require any special high voltage training or specialized equipment. It also reduces any electrical risks for those on the boat. While it is always possible to design a more spacious tender, the realities of inflatable pontoons and fossil fuel motors sometimes place a ceiling on what can be accomplished. The

Electric hydrofoiling ferries will soon be arriving ‘down under’ as New Zealand builder Vessev and local expert Enautic partner to bring a new kind of water transport to Perth, the continent’s fourth largest city. Several Vessev VS–9 vessels have been reserved and will operate premium tourism experiences like wine cruises, twilight sailings and private charters. The plan is to expand to commuter route service in the future. Listen to this article as a podcast Vessev was founded in 2018 by Max Olson and Eric Laakmann, a former engineering program leader at Apple. Last year their flying ferries made their debut as the first certified electric hydrofoiling vessel to enter the fleet of a commercial operator (as opposed to publicly-owned municipal transport authority). Flying tourist boats operating in New Zealand  Two VS-9s are operated by New Zealand’s largest ferry transport and tourism operator, Fullers360. They each carry up to 10 passengers around Auckland’s Waitematā Harbour, providing panoramic views of the city, the Harbour Bridge and islands of the Huaraki Gulf. Vessev says the two units have logged close to 10,000 Nautical miles (18,500 km / 11,500 mi). Hydrofoiling is a technology that uses foils – basically underwater airplane wings – that lift the boat out of the water, eliminating the water resistance of the hull. That means much less energy is required to move the boat, and there is almost no wake. Energy usage can be reduced by as much as 85%, which is great for improving both the finances of the flying ferry operator and electric boat range – up to  50 nautical miles (92 km / 57 mi) in the case of the VS-9. The no-wake aspect is important for two reasons. In Auckland the main benefit is that the flying ferry can operate in sensitive waters without disturbing the ecosystem. In Perth the main benefit is that the VS-9 can go faster in restricted areas. Cruise through restricted no wake zones Where other large commercial ferries are typically limited to speeds of 5–8 knots ( 9-15 kph / 6-9 mph) along much of the Swan, the wake-free VS–9 can cruise at 25 knots (46 kph / 29 mph). This enables dramatically faster travel times and opens the door to a new model of water-based commuter and tourism transport. Enautic, the Perth-based Australian company working with Vessev, started out as Electri.nautic in 2019, working with the University of Western Australia to develop the world’s first hydrofoiling jetski, the WaveFlyer. Read about the beginnings of Enautic In 2025 they expanded their horizons. In addition to producing and developing other small hydrofoilers – the RIB 310, Volaré and ROGUE – Enautic also works with companies like Vessev to promote electric propulsion and electric hydrofoiling in particular. One division, Little Ferry, operates a solar ferry in Perth and another, Aqua Flights, rents e-foiling boards on the Swan River. The Vessev arrangement is with Aqua Flights. The project is being led by aerospace engineer and entrepreneur Josh Portlock, Founder and Executive Chairman of the Enautic Group.  Portlock says electric hydrofoiling represented a major opportunity to rethink how cities use their waterways. “Hydrofoiling is what makes electric water transport genuinely viable. It delivers the speed, range and sustainability you need without compromise,” Portlock says. “The VS–9 is exactly the type of vessel that makes this model possible.” Electric flying ferries around the world Vessev is not alone. Swedish electric hydrofoiling developer Candela was the first company to have an operating vessel, which services a commuter route in Stockholm. MobyFly of Switzerland has had successful tests on Lake Geneva and the UK’s Artemis Technologies has delivered a 24 passenger ferry to Brittany Ferries in Belfast. About Perth, Portlock says “Starting with premium tourism allows people to experience the technology first-hand while laying the groundwork for a future where electric hydrofoiling becomes one of the fastest and most sustainable ways to move around the city.” Eric Laakmann of Vessev said the Australian announcement reflected growing global momentum for electric hydrofoiling. “We’re seeing cities around the world rediscovering their waterways because of what electric hydrofoiling unlocks. Australia is a natural fit, and businesses like the Enautic Group are leading that shift.” The first vessels are expected to be delivered in early 2027. Vessev is working collaboratively with applicable classification societies and local regulatory bodies to ensure compliance with all local requirements for this innovative vessel type. Vessev website  Enautic website The post Australia latest country to get electric flying ferries appeared first on Plugboats.

An electric boat speed record set last September has now set the stage for a whole new speedboat racing series, the Formula 60 Electric Speedboat Championship. Together with the global E1 Championships launched in 2024, these competitions demonstrate the ever-rising interest in electric boat propulsion. Last year German electric boat motor manufacturer Molabo began working with three partners –  boatbuilder Kaiser Bootsmanufaktur, Team Tech-ouT E-Racing and green mobility expert Protenergies, to retrofit Molabo’s 50 kW ARIES 48 V drive system into a combustion-powered Formula-4 (F4) boat. Listen to this article as a podcast The F4 boats are 3.9 m (≈ 13 ft) ‘tunnel catamarans’ with a wing or aerofoil built-in to their design. The class is very popular across Western Europe, the U.K, and Middle East. In the internal combustion version they can be powered by the four-stroke 60 EFI Racing or 60 APX, both 60 horsepower outboards and both from Mercury Racing. The Molabo ARIES is rated at approximately 80 hp and the boat established an electric F4 world speed record of 91.5 kph (55 mph) on a one kilometre course. The speeds were clocked and verified by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), the global governing body of powerboat racing. Speedboats use Molabo 48V safe-to-touch technology “The acceleration is noticeably stronger than combustion engines” said Mael Touchet, who piloted the boat for Team Tech-ouT E-Racing, “and from the cockpit, you feel other big differences: it’s much quieter, and vibrations are greatly reduced,”  The remarkable thing about the motor is not the torque and smooth operation – which all electric motors deliver – but that this kind of power is achieved using only 48 Volts. It is Molabo’s ISCAD patented technology motor that makes it possible, and makes it  the only electric outboard able to produce 50kW of power at safe-to-touch voltage. For recreational and commercial boat owners, that safe-to-touch 48 volts means that installation and maintenance of Molabo drives – outboard, inboard or hybrid – does not require specially trained or certified technicians. That in turn reduces installation and other costs. “Low-voltage systems are especially important in racing” says Philippe Touchet of Team Tech-ouT E-Racing. “Non-certified users can work on the boat and for UIM safety requirements, if a boat flips and the cockpit floods, both driver and rescue divers remain safe from high-voltage risks. That’s an important factor in making electric racing safer and more accessible for more teams.” Read Plugboats coverage of the international E1 electric speedboat series The record-setting run was a decisive proof of concept. Jean-Jacques Bucher, President of the Yacht Moteur Club de France, said at the time “This isn’t just about today’s run, it’s also about making an important step toward electrifying the speedboat racing world”. Formula 60 Electric Speedboat Championships inviting teams Now the mission is becoming a reality. The Formula 60 Electric Speedboat Championship will debut under the auspices of the French Powerboat Federation (FFM) with four confirmed race weekends scheduled in France this summer: June 7/8: Albi June 27/28: Mâcon August 29/30: Chalon-sur-Saône September 5/6: Caen. The initiative has been developed in alignment with key industry stakeholders, including the UIM and Mercury Racing, both of whom also partner with the E1 Series. International expansion of Formula 60 under the UIM framework is planned for the 2027 race season. Molabo and Protenergies are ready to provide Molabo’s ARIES system – including a new lightweight, swappable battery pack – to any F4 team looking to convert their motors to electric. The companies are also inviting others to join the F-60 Championships as Founding Teams who will participate in developing competitive and technical parameters for the new class. “The transition to electric is technically straightforward,” said Adrian Patzak, CCO, Molabo. “With the championship launch confirmed, the inaugural Formula 60 Electric grid is now being finalized, with a limited number of team spots still available.” He adds that technical briefings and integration planning sessions will be scheduled in the coming weeks. Teams interested in learning more should contact [email protected] before March 29, 2026. Molabo website  Kaiser website The post June launch for new Formula 60 Electric Speedboat Championship appeared first on Plugboats.

Nice, one of the Mediterranean’s most historic ports and seaside destinations, is presenting a new public boat show and industry forum that focusses exclusively on electric, hydrogen, solar, hybrid and other sustainable boat and boating technologies. Nice Boating Tomorrow has an impressive first year line-up of more than 80 exhibitors and 30 boats in-water, where visitors will be able to take part in sea trials and experience first-hand the performance, comfort and smoothness of clean propulsion systems. Listen to this article as a podcast The in-water exhibition will feature established shipyards alongside innovative start-ups and include everything from electric jetskis and dayboats to clean-energy cruising catamarans. Exhibitors are based in France, Finland, Croatia, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, Italy and Monaco. In-water show, on land exhibits, international forum Electric motors, battery systems, solar panels, hybridization technologies, wind-assisted propulsion and more will be onshore along with boat retrofit solutions. Beyond electric vessels, visitors can explore sustainability options like deck coverings, eco-designed sails, bio-sourced nautical apparel and the services of naval architecture firms, eco-design studios and shared boating platforms. The four day public show (March 19 – 22) is centred around Quai Infernet , near the old town of Nice, and coordinates with an industry forum taking place the 19th and 20th at the OcéaNice Conference Centre in the centre of the city. The forum features conferences and expert panels addressing the key challenges and opportunities shaping sustainable boating in the centre of the city. Below are some highlighted electric boats and boating exhibitors at Quai Infernet and a schedule of the forum events that have electric propulsion as their topic. There is also an expandable guide that lists all electric boat exhibitors at the show and includes links to their websites. City of Nice and Grand Pavois Organization The impetus for Nice Boating Tomorrow came about partly because the OcéaNice centre hosted 2025’sThird United Nations Ocean Conference. The momentum from that show – and the importance of sustainable navigation to Nice and the Mediterranean in general, prompted the mayor of Nice, M. Christian Estrosi, to reach out to the organizers of the Grand Pavois La Rochelle boat show. The goal is to create “The first international boating event dedicated exclusively to sustainable boating, designed to become the leading global reference for tomorrow’s boating industry, fostering innovation visibility, exchange, collaboration and best practices in eco-navigation.” Over the past 7 years Plugboats has covered a number of new shows, in various countries that focus on electric boats and boating. The quantity and quality of exhibitors and the broad industry support for the first Nice Boating Tomorrow – along with the city itself and the expertise and experience of the Grand Pavois Organization – bode well for this and future editions. Directory of Electric Boat Exhibitors at Nice Boating Tomorrow 2026 Click to Open   +   or  –  Close a Directory of all electric exhibitors. Selected e-boat and motor highlights of the show are below Click any tile for company information and links. Association Française du Bateau Electrique bateau-electrique.com/ [email protected] 33 (0) 6 72 99 16 84work L’Association Française pour le Bateau Electrique a été créée en 1994 à Bordeaux par des partenaires issus d’horizons professionnels différents – universitaires, chercheurs, ingénieurs et industriels – soucieux de développer l’image et le marché du bateau électrique en France comme à l’étranger. The French Association for Electric Boats was created in 1994 in Bordeaux by partners from different professional disciplines – academics, researchers, engineers and industrialists – concerned with developing the image and the market of electric boats in France and elsewhere. Location: Paris, France Bateaux Pour la Planete bateauxpourlaplanete.com [email protected] +33 (0) 6.88.40.76.21work Bateau pour la planète est un constructeur de bateaux électro-solaires destinés à la navigation fluviale décarbonée. Ces bateaux electro-solaires destinés à la navigation fluviale décarbonée sont 100% autonomes en énergie. Example avec la “Coche d’eau Solaire”, un concept de catamaran fluvial: la motorisation électrique alimentée par un générateur photovoltaique embarqué assure une navigation économe et silencieuse. Sa conception avec des matériaux recylcables en fera le premier bateau de plaisance entièrement recyclable. 1280 avenue des platanes – 34970 Casseneuil, France Bavaria Yachts bavariayachts.com BlueNav [email protected]   bluenav.fr sales @ bluenav.fr +33 (0)5 56 83 70 25 Boatee boatee.it info(at)boatee(dot)it Italy Competr competr.it Day One Boats day1.fr Dhamma

Spanish boatyard Dhamma Blue has developed a hydrogen fuel cell and lithium battery hybrid propulsion system that gives their flagship DHB-P01 model all of the range and speed many recreational boaters would ever need – without pumping carbon dioxide and noxious fumes into the atmosphere. Listen to this article as a podcast The system has four core elements: Hydrogen tank holding 350 Litres / 8.4 kilograms at a pressure of 350 bar (5,000 psi) Fuel cell converting hydrogen to electricity  Battery with storage capacity of 63 kiloWatt hours 140 kW (190 hp) electric motor with shaft line transmission In some hydrogen electric hybrid systems, like those used in the America’s Cup chase boats, the fuel cells and battery are linked up in series: the hydrogen tank feeds → the fuel cells, which convert → the hydrogen to electricity that feeds / charges → the battery, which powers →  the motor. In the DHB-P01 system the cells and battery are linked to the motor in parallel, meaning either – or both – can power the motor. An ECU (Engine Control Unit) adjusts the input as necessary depending on the speed and load required. In general, the fuel cells are used for slower speeds / longer range and the battery for higher speeds / shorter bursts. Green hydrogen + batteries = zero carbon emission This hydrogen electric hybrid system provides the same benefits as a diesel  electric hybrid: extending the boat’s range beyond the limits the battery’s energy storage can deliver on its own. A hydrogen electric system, though, is a lot cleaner than one using fossil fuels because the only thing emitted is water vapour. There may be carbon emissions when the hydrogen is produced using a process called steam reformation, but when it is produced using electricity in a process called electrolysis, there are no carbon emissions when that electricity comes from renewable sources like wind and solar. Read the Plugboats article: The Colours of Hydrogen That is called ‘green hydrogen’ and it is where Dhamma Blue began. One of the company’s co-founders, Philippe Esposito, is a pioneering leader in Spain’s renewable energy sector who also co-founded one of the country’s largest developers of green hydrogen, H2 Energy. The company builds large solar farms that use the generated electricity to produce hydrogen through electrolysis. Projects are underway not only in Spain but also in Portugal and Mexico. The other Dhamma Blue founder is Robin Imaz, a marine engineer, naval architect, and professional sailor for 15 years who has won multiple world championship races. He has done everything from design and optimization of racing sailing yachts to structural and cost optimization studies to complete design for both power and sailing yachts. With the DHB-P01 Imaz and his team have put together a boat that is a delight to be on, with the enjoyment enhanced by the silence of the motor and the lack of noxious fumes. This quick video can give you an idea of how quiet the ride is. You can also see that this boat can move. With a 140 kw (190 hp) motor that can produce peak power of 210 kw (285 hp), the DB P01 has top speed of 28 kts (52 kph / 32 mph).  That gives plenty of zip for water sports and, since water sports only require high speeds when the rider is up, the hydrogen fuel cell extends the amount of time (or number of times) that everyone can go out for a spin. At cruising speed (12 knots / 22 kph/ 14 mph) the DB P01 can cover 65 Nautical miles: 120 kilometres / 75 miles. Hydrogen electric hybrid good at a lot of things Imaz says “What I am most proud of is that this boat can do a lot of things. Many boats can do one thing very very well, but are not as good for others. But people don’t always want to do the same thing in their boat, to always have the same experience. Sometimes they want to have a long slow sail with family or friends, maybe take a swim in a quiet cove…other times they have fun by going skiing or wakeboarding…and sometimes they may want to go for a longer distance but at a reasonable speed because of time reasons. They can do all of these with the DHB-P01.” Onboard, the feel is one of openness and high quality reflected in a clean, unpretentious design. The 2.55m (8′ 4″) beam provides plenty of room for a pilot and  passenger seat up front,  two seats behind and day/sunbeds stretching towards a swimming platform at the stern. Naval Architect and Marine Engineer Carlos Orive, a key member of Imaz’ team, says melding the propulsion system with the deck layout and design led to some boater-friendly solutions. The different weights of the motor, battery, fuel cells, hydrogen tanks, had to be arranged to provide the best balance for both planing and non-planing uses and for ‘refueling’ with hydrogen and electricity. One of the outcomes was the split sunbed idea – one slightly wider than the

Norwegian company Evoy was one of the first in the world to develop all electric boat motors with power ratings of 100 kilowatts and beyond. They now have lines of high powered outboards and inboard systems like the Breeze 120+ HP, Storm 330+ HP and Hurricane 400+ HP that are on the transoms and in the hulls of dozens of vessels from leading boat yards around the world. One of those is Axopar. I was able to chat with Leif out on the water in an Evoy propelled AX/E 25 at the Cannes Yachting Festival in September, and then back on land after the Metstrade boating trade show, where Evoy and sister companies Vita and Taiga had announced some exciting and groundbreaking battery news. This article is a lightly edited transcription of the podcast interview with Stavøstrand in which he talks about the past, present and future of electric boating. Listen to this article as a podcast SCENE: Speaking in the ‘go-slow / no-wake zone’ at the Cannes Yachting Festival Plugboats: Leif, when you and I first talked, I had just started Plugboats, and you had just started Evoy. Leif Stavøstrand: Yeah, it’s been a few years. We started in 2018, I think, and you and I talked pretty much the first year. So it’s been seven years now. PB: And does it seem like seven years…or five seconds…or a couple of lifetimes… LS: It’s funny, when you look back at time, it seems like it’s fast, but like you say, it’s kind of been a lifetime. You can have really good news and really bad news in the same day, and you have this roller coaster of emotions and news. Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solsberg launched the electric boat Evoy1 on August 2, 2019 PB: And as I recall, it didn’t take you long to go from the concept to reality. LS: We brought the product to market pretty early, which was a conscious choice. It also meant that our customer knew in the early days that there could be hiccups, but that we would be there to help them when stuff occurred, and I think that has been the right choice for us. Instead of doing R&D for 10 years, we got to adapt the product to customer feedback. PB: and that’s been helpful? LS: Yes, the customers sometimes manage to provoke things that we don’t see when we do our testing. It’s like, oh, yeah, you can do… ‘Oh, we hadn’t thought about doing it like that. Okay, let’s adapt to that’. So that’s been good for us PB: And overall, has the adoption of electric propulsion been faster or slower than you thought LS: I think we did expect things to move quicker. I think everyone did. Looking at the car market, it’s maybe not so surprising that things do take time, and it’s really different from region to region and country to country, because you have some markets that quite ready. Electric car markets more ready for electric boats But if there is a generalization, you could say that markets that are heavy on electric cars are typically also more interested and ready to go electric with boats. Where we see really good traction is often where there’s incentives in place. That really helps a lot. We’re seeing a good uptake in the U.S., both East Coast, West Coast, and we also have a good uptake in Norway, and there’s some along the Mediterranean. There’s some in Sweden, and there’s the commercial side – aquaculture, strong port and harbour, some tourism. We have quite a bit in there, tenders used for going out on the water with 12 passengers or so. We have got a few of those. PB: And what’s the split between new boats and repowers or refits? LS: It’s mostly new boats. I think the driver there is that when people are getting a new shiny electric system, they typically combine it with upgrading the boat at the same time. I think we’re probably at somewhere between 80 to 90% on new boats versus retrofitting. We think that percentage might change over time, especially when we get like, cost down, then it will be easier for people to think, okay, my my motor is about to conk out here, and price isn’t that much more for for electric in many ways, with the outboard. Then again, the inboard is about 50% smaller than your normal inboard. In some cases 60%, in some cases 40%, but as a rule of thumb, about 50% smaller in volume. The AX/E 25 was developed in partnership with Axopar Boats. PB: That’s interesting that markets where electric cars are going well are also good for electric boats. LS: Yes, with those that have electric cars, it’s a whole different conversation. People that are experienced with trying. Charging and how it works, and that they have to plan a little bit when it comes to how they use their car. They bring that state of mind into the boat as well. So it’s a lot easier conversation to have. SCENE: The boat we were out on with Leif was an AX/E 25, one of the models Evoy worked on with Axopar boats to create a line of electric models. T