Groupe Beneteau developing electric powerboats

alt="Groupe Beneteau developing electric powerboats"/>

Groupe Beneteau has launched a partnership with Vision Marine Technologies to develop and market “100 per cent” electric outboard-equipped powerboats. Vision Marine Technologies’ high-power outboard motors will be integrated on several models across Groupe Beneteau’s brand portfolio as part of the collaboration.

Erik Stromberg, Groupe Beneteau’s Power and Motor Yacht Product Director, said: “After the construction and thorough testing of a first, jointly developed prototype in early 2022, the objective is to bring to market a 100 per cent electric boat and propulsion package. The key to electrification is to have a full analysis of the customer use case. Many of the boats in our portfolio fit perfectly with a 100 per cent electric solution. This solution is complementary and fully compatible with our other propulsion packages.”

The Vision Marine E-Motion™180hp powertrain system has a battery capacity of 70kWh of continuous power, making it suitable for day boating. The initial commercial offering with Groupe Beneteau will be launched under the Four Winns brand, with deliveries available in spring 2023. The technology will also be rolled out by other brands within Groupe Beneteau.

Alexandre Mongeon, co-founder & CEO of Vision Marine, said: “We are honoured to have the opportunity to power the Four Winns boat with our E-Motion™ 180E technology and look forward to a long-standing partnership with Groupe Beneteau. We continue to showcase our technology and rig the E-Motion™ powertrain on numerous third-party boats to formally move towards scaled production of our E-Motion™ technology for commercial usage.”

In March, Groupe Beneteau launched the Delphia 11 with electric propulsion for boating on inland waterways and lakes. At the Cannes Yachting Festival in September 2021, it presented the Excess 15 hybrid sailing catamaran.