Norwegian firms to produce world’s fastest production electric boat?

Marine electric motor manufacturer Evoy  is teaming up with a high-end Norwegian boatbuilder to produce an electric motor-powered RIB that will have a top speed in excess of 45kt. It is anticipated the cooperation between Evoy and Goldfish will create what is expected to be the fastest production boat powered by an electric motor. The new electric boat will be launched this spring and will act as the VIP chaser boat of SailGP’s race events in Europe, joining the series at the Plymouth, UK event on July 17.

The development of this electric RIB goes back to a dialogue between Pål Solli, the founder, head designer and owner of Goldfish, and Leif Stavøstrand, co-founder and CEO of Evoy, back in 2018 when they decided that the currently available battery technology was not mature enough to showcase the electric motor technology in the Goldfish boats. Now with the development of Evoy’s updated Hurricane inboard electric motor systems combined with the latest marine battery technology, the fast electric Goldfish has become viable.

The new electric version of a Goldfish will be based on one of their RIBs and will be powered by Evoy’s 400hp-plus electric motors. Evoy started with the production of electric inboard motors and offers some of the most powerful motors available for smaller boats. The motor design has been refined both to reduce weight and increase power output and the 400hp unit is the company’s top of the range unit. For the Goldfish installation it will be coupled to a stern drive propulsion unit.

To match the increasing power outputs of both the company’s inboard and outboard electric motors, Evoy has introduced a new range of batteries that are claimed to have both lighter weight and size combined with a high capacity and it is these batteries that make the new Goldfish electric boat a viable proposition to produce an effective range at high speeds. Evoy will be releasing its brand-new Energy batteries, which will have an energy density of 166 watt-hours per kg based on 2170 battery cells. This enables Evoy to cut entry costs by 15% and offer a weight reduction of up to 40% for the batteries.

The new electric RIB from Goldfish will be available both as a fast leisure version and for commercial and military applications.

Source: IBI News