In Spring of this year, Sea-Doo revealed its plans for an all-electric personal watercraft dubbed the “E-GTI”. Based upon the existing GTI 3-seater runabout platform introduced for the 2020 model line, the E-GTI rides on a Polytech 2.0 hull (meaning a polytec or proprietary-blend of polypropylene and infused fiberglass stringers for added support) with an injection-molded CM-Tech deck.
Details pertaining to the E-GTI’s electric powertrain and the charging system have remained sealed from the public for the time being, even after the video embedded below was first published on BRP’s official Facebook page earlier this past week. Hosted by TV personality and WWE commentator, Kevin Raphael interviews Emile Maltais-Larouche, chief designer at Sea-Doo.
Here’s the rub: the video’s completely in French with no subtitles. The Watercraft Journal has done our best to source out some translated lines and offer a brief recap: First, Sea-Doo is working furiously to advance their electric powertrain efforts and even hinted at a possible tw0-year release of the E-GTI, or (and this might be a bit of “lost in translation” here) the possibility of powering a future Sea-Doo Switch tritoon.
Of course, Larouche lauds the low maintenance of the electric engine and emphasizes its safety (yes! An electric engine can be safe on the water) and how quiet it is. Finally, Larouche teases that there’s more to come in time. From there, the two board the E-GTI and idle around the cove. We’re not shown the Sea-Doo at speed, but do get some unaltered audio of the whisper-quiet E-GTI in action, if only for a second or two. There’s not much to go off of, but it’s something. Enjoy the video below:
