With all the panic and money to be made surrounding climate, change more developers are turning toward zero emissions vehicles, and that includes PWC. Electric Hydrofoils are all the rage now and some odd designs are coming to fruition.
Hydrofoils are lighter than the typical battery-operated jet ski, thus the gravitation toward them. They offer more ride time, too. A jet ski designed with hydrofoils has a lot let less drag due the foils lifting the ski above the waterline. It also uses less energy and is more efficient than a standard battery-operated jet ski.
Pelagion’s battery powered HydroBlade uses a hydrofoil, which not only minimizes drag, but it also allows the electric drivetime to run longer and at higher speeds. Mark Zuckerberg helped the HydroBlade gain notoriety when he was filmed riding one of Pelagion’s prototype models.
The Fliteboard eFoil is another interesting contraption that recently made the news again. It is a stubby surfboard powered by a titanium encased battery that connects to the Dual Drive propulsion system. With the Dual Propulsion system, you can switch from jet propulsion to a propeller without the use of tools.
Another interesting watercraft is the prototype Flyway electric water scooter, which looks a lot like the original stand-up jet skis. The Flyway has a large boom attached to the bottom of the hull. The boom is connected to the hydrofoil and underwater propulsion system. The scooter does look fun to ride, though we prefer a jet ski with a combustion engine.
However, electric watercraft are quiet and less disruptive than gas powered vehicles and with the ride time getting better, their popularity is increasing. Moreover, with the push toward electric vehicles and certain jurisdictions prohibiting combustion engines on the waterways, the push is on to ride electric PWC.
