Aptera co-founder debuts EPIC 23e hybrid electric wake boat

It doesn't exactly have the same space age looks of the Aptera 2e he helped design, but this new EPIC 23e wake boat from Chris Anthony's Epic Boats shouldn't have any trouble attracting attention nonetheless, and not just because of its paint job. The key bit here is the boat's Flux Propulsion EVO 8.1 Marine Drive System, which allows for all-electric operation most of the time, with the gas engine only kicking in to power the generator that recharges the lithium ion batteries. According to the company, that should translate to about four hours of operating time and as much as a 50 percent reduction in fuel, not to mention a 90 percent drop in carbon monoxide emissions. Of course, with some Aptera brains behind it, you'll also get plenty of on-board gadgets, including a touchscreen interface, GPS Speed Control, and a full-fledged on-board entertainment system for passengers. No firm word on a price, but it apparently could cost "as much as $150,000" when it launches in July, though the company eventually hopes to get that down to around $70,000. Must-see video after the break.

[Via AutoblogGreen]

[Super S @ Mar 16th 2009 6:33PM]

It really makes you wonder if there are other out there like it. There are so many electric cars, I wonder why it's taken so long for an electric boat (that looks like a normal boat that is)

[iGoon#2 @ Mar 16th 2009 6:36PM]

Because all that battery adds weight so any little leak and the rats start to bail...

[Super S @ Mar 16th 2009 6:38PM]

Ah, but weight is good. Causes bigger wake, therefore larger jumps. That's a feature you have to normally pay for. Ballasts that fill with water. Now you don't have to.

I see the point though, for normal cruising, the extra weight isn't ideal.

[Henry @ Mar 16th 2009 6:49PM]

Just watch, next they will put solar panels on that thing.

[Information Central @ Mar 17th 2009 2:38AM]

WTF is a "wake boat"?

[John Sullivan @ Mar 17th 2009 2:21PM]

Goon is right-- for wakeboats, adding weight is a good thing, but only up to a point (sinking BAD) and for most other types of boat you have enough weight already with the hull, drivetrain, crew, etc. You're not going to see this technology in anything that goes a reasonable distance from shore unless you can get a LOT more efficient and extend the range significantly. Inshore and offshore fishing boats NEED this technology to make significant environmental improvements (large outboard-powered center consoles are lucky to get 3MPG) but hybrid drivetrains just aren't ready.

An eventual price of $70k doesn't sound unreasonable for this particular offering, but the technology is hardly a lock for other applications.

[Jonyah @ Mar 18th 2009 9:39AM]

If they really can get the price down in the 70's, I may just be in the market this time next year for one of these.

[James @ Mar 16th 2009 6:35PM]

I don't think that video and its music appeal to the crowd willing to drop money on a hybrid boat. Why does every marketing video have this crappy quasi trash rock music? Didn't that go out of style about 15-20 years ago?

[nikster @ Mar 16th 2009 7:01PM]

That video needs:
- Hip Hop sound track
- To be half as long (drop the first half with the cheesy text overlays that look like they were done on an Amiga)
- Better chicks, in bikinis

[C4-M↨ke @ Mar 16th 2009 6:37PM]

Three words: Electricity + Water = Electric Shock how would they charge the speed boat???!!!
Imagine getting shock after paying $150,000 jajajajajaja!!!

[max654000 @ Mar 16th 2009 6:54PM]

3? Aren't there 4 words in your equation?

[BigD145 @ Mar 16th 2009 7:09PM]

C4 has a hard time counting AND understanding that the batteries aren't taped to the underside of the boat.

Boats have been wired with electrical components for decades.

[niel718 @ Mar 16th 2009 8:38PM]

happy blated bday =)!! sorry i missed ur birth yesterday....if ur not getting my point then no doubt ur a dunce

[PDubNYC @ Mar 16th 2009 6:46PM]

That video is beyond annoying. I really wanted to hear what it sounded like going through the water on all Electric. and $150,000? Go F yourself

But I am glad that these things are starting to come along.

[JL @ Mar 16th 2009 6:46PM]

Rejoice, rich people! Excessively extravagant entertainment now available in "guilt-free" flavor! What's that? Oh, nevermind how that electricity is generated, Bobby.

[Ed @ Mar 17th 2009 12:11AM]

What a completly pointless and stupid video that was! First, the lettering was unreadable because of a lack of contrast between the water and the color they chose for the letters
And second, What's with the stupid music? Any boat can move on the water and pull a water skier...In fact, what evidence do we have that this boat was even electric to begin with? For all we know, that was just a regular smoke-pot inboard engine! If they want to make a video extolling the virtues of a hybrid boat, show the engine! Show the control unit! Get rid of the stupid music and let us hear the high-pitched whine of an electric motor revving up to pull a wake-boarder! That's what we need...not some advertising wonk's idea of "cool tunes" and unbelievably ugly graphics.
Ed
web/gadget guru

[Bob @ Mar 16th 2009 7:05PM]

Starcraft electric deck boat that made its rounds at all the boat shows last year: http://www.iboats.com/Starcraft_Boats_limited_deckboats_electric_deck_boat_200_io/nb/mo104765-y2008

[Luke @ Mar 16th 2009 7:09PM]

The graphics on this boat are tacky and same with the hub caps on the trailer. It looks like the graphics kids in high school use on their Honda civics, ugly.

[Murphy Mac @ Mar 16th 2009 7:34PM]

Flux Propulsion EVO 8.1 Marine Drive System.....just like the the Red Oktober

[Aaron @ Mar 17th 2009 10:37AM]

all i could think of when i saw that was "1.21 jigawatts?!"

[grabbydad @ Mar 16th 2009 7:22PM]

I would have liked to hear the actual boat on the water. How much quieter is the electric drive than an ICE? When going boating for the day, you usually are not near a power source. I hope the gas generator can charge the batteries all the way (unlike the Volt).

[muel @ Mar 16th 2009 7:34PM]

What I like about it is having the torque to get on plane very quickly. That's the problem with four stroke engines. While quieter and more fuel efficient, they don't get up to speed like a 2-stroke. Obviously an electric motor would get that thing up to speed quickly, but in the videos at least, I don't ever think it moved faster than 30 knots. Not exactly high performance for a ski boat.

[tony @ Mar 16th 2009 7:39PM]

Why did he call that a "Must-see video.."?
Because it's so amazingly bad?

[digitallysick @ Mar 16th 2009 10:16PM]

70k for 4 hours wtf

[Breakfast @ Mar 16th 2009 10:39PM]

Yes. A full-fledged onboard entertainment system. Just what I need to keep me from getting too bored while I'm blasting my way across the waves.
Maybe they're thinking of families doing the daily commute or something?

[slivingston @ Mar 17th 2009 12:32AM]

If you meet any friends, bring them back and we'll give them a ride in "Suck My Wake."

[erik @ Mar 17th 2009 2:32AM]

Mastercraft X-Star FTW

[Paul @ Mar 17th 2009 7:39AM]

wow - that is fugly

[Barri @ Mar 17th 2009 9:58AM]

They need to go take a look at mastercrafts video section. Our 2008 x-30 was only $70k and i cant see anyone paying over that for this ugly looking thing. You cant beat the rumble that v8 makes when your out on the water. I wouldnt trade that for electric. It looks like a correctcraft from 20 years ago. Epic fail

[OLight @ Mar 17th 2009 12:09PM]

Now, I haven't looked at Aptera's website for this little gem, but I wonder if it suffers the same limitations of the auto, in that it is only available in California. I'm sure the Southern Californians would be happy, but there's an awfully big boating market on the East Coast....