Electric hydrofoil skiff scheduled for spring 2022
Epoch Boats, a new US boat and eco-tech company, is launching an all-electric skiff boat with a hydrofoil hull design and electric outboard motor, with production availability scheduled for late spring 2022.
The new Epoch Skiff model range features a patent-pending hydrofoil system, which deploys at speed to lift the boat out of the water, reducing hull drag and allowing it to efficiently “fly over the water at speeds exceeding 30mph with a 10hp-15hp equivalent electric motor and 5kWh battery”. According to Epoch, the hydrofoil hull design extends the speed and efficiency of electric motors by a factor of two, reducing propulsive power requirements by as much as 75 per cent and alleviating range anxiety associated with electric boating.
The new electric hydrofoil Epoch Skiff will start from US$35,000 and is available in 14ft, 16ft and 18ft with eight different hull colors. It’s built with marine-grade aluminum for durability in shallow water use, while being lightweight enough to allow for smooth take-off and efficient cruising in foil mode.
“Our goal was to develop a more eco friendly boat, which would reduce a boater’s impact on the environment, but we knew that it also had to have the performance and wow factor that today’s boaters want,” says Tom Ward, Epoch co-founder and CEO. “Most electric boats are either too slow or too expensive for the average boater. Epoch’s boats are designed to work efficiently with an electric motor and relatively small battery pack for higher performance, range and speed at a cost comparable to many similarly optioned gas boats.”
On its Facebook page, the new company refers to its work as “a marine climate-tech company that makes really cool boats. We’re building a new generation of boats that combines innovative engineering and eco-friendly technology with the performance and wow factor that today’s boaters want”.
Epoch’s all-electric boats operate virtually silently with reduced maintenance, no fuel costs and zero emissions. The company says customers will benefit from estimated savings of US$1,000 per year in fuel and maintenance for the average owner.
“With electric drivetrain technology evolving, fuel prices rising and many waterways going electric-only, we think now is the perfect time for boaters to transition to electric boating,” says Diane Seltzer, Epoch co-founder and CMO. “Epoch’s hydrofoil electric boats are ideal for fishing in shallow water, a high-flying fun day on the lake or even as a yacht tender. We’re providing a fun, clean and affordable electric boating experience like no other.”
