Canadian builder to launch 740hp electric speedboat.
Voltari Marine Electric, the Canadian electric boat manufacturer, has announced that its new Voltari 260 speedboat is currently in production and available for delivery later this year.
The fully electric performance boat boasts 740hp and is powered by a 142kWh battery pack. The Voltari 260 measures 26ft and weighs 7,000 pounds. It has a top speed of 60mph and a range of 37 miles on a single charge.
Boats, unlike cars, generate significant friction, necessitating substantial energy to maintain a constant cruising speed. While an electric car may draw only 15kW of electricity at 60mph, an electric boat may require several hundred kWs at the same speed. This presents unique challenges in electric boat design.
Cam Heaps, CEO of Voltari, told InsideEvs: “A boat is so inherently inefficient, operating in hydrodynamic state versus aerodynamic state, that we’re always looking for ways to improve efficiency and power-to-weight ratio. The way we look at it is we take the average boater’s day on the water, whether you’re in Florida, The Hamptons, or cottage country Ontario,” Heaps says. “Very few people go more than 35 miles on their boating day, and that’s what you can do at cruise [speed].”
Regarding charging, Voltari anticipates most owners will charge their boats at their docks, as the majority are equipped with 220V outlets. The boat also supports fast charging, with its 700V battery system enabling a 45-minute charging session. Voltari plans to begin customer deliveries later this year.
