There are many ways you can make an electric boat faster than it is and that too on a single charge. One way is to use a more powerful battery, but that usually adds weight and can be counterproductive and another solution is to use a hydrofoil system that reduces drag.
The SpiritBARTech35EF is an electric yacht that combines both of these solutions to achieve the longest range of 100 nautical miles (115 miles/185 km) and a top speed of 22 knots (25 mph/41 km/h) when it’s flying. The boat has special retractable foils that help reduce drag and improve performance.
The SpiritBARTech35EF is the result of a collaboration between Spirit Yachts, a boat design company based in the UK, and BAR Technologies, a marine engineering company. Previous electric yachts of similar size had a range of 25 to 70 nautical miles.
“The electric flyer will be the first of a series of boats we design to break new ground as we move into a greener generation of leisure yachts,” said John Cooper, CEO of BAR Technologies, said in a media statement.
For this project, the boat is equipped with a customized electric powertrain provided by Equipmake, a UK-based electric motor specialist. The powertrain is lightweight, powerful, and high-performance. It has a peak output of 80kW (107 hp) and includes a specially designed integrated gearbox.
The boat also features a bespoke battery pack with a capacity of 120kWh and an HPI-450 IGBT inverter, both developed by Spirit Yachts. These components work together with the powertrain to achieve the impressive performance of the boat.
In addition to its advanced electric propulsion system, the yacht has an innovative design made of titanium, cold-molded wood, and a carbon fiber-reinforced shell. This design reduces the weight of the boat to just one tonne.
Thanks to advancements in foiling technology, which have been influenced by the America’s Cup, modern boats consume less power. In the case of the SpiritBARTech35EF, the boat incorporates foiling technology from BAR Technologies, which reduces friction between the hull and the water. This allows the boat to rise above the surface and reach a peak speed of 30 mph (48 kph) in a quiet and smooth manner.
The future of the boating industry will be shaped by sustainability and efficiency, and the SpiritBARTech35EF is an example of progress in that direction.