New Zealand electric startup expands in Europe with new UK office
Electric propulsion company ZeroJet is establishing a sales office in Southampton, UK, to meet increasing demand for its 18kW electric jet unit.
ZeroJet launched its first product, the 18kW electric jet propulsion for small boats, in 2024. It is now in production.
The firm says its proprietary motor design is 60 per cent smaller than other similar products, resulting in a compact design, freeing up precious space on small boats.
Declan Price and Matt Forbes will head up the UK sales and support operation, based in Southampton.
“We have outgrown our ability to meet the high level of interest and support required to service the European market, so the timing is right to build our European team,” says CEO Mark Robotham. Declan will return to the UK after spearheading ZeroJet’s sales from New Zealand.
“Up until now, there simply weren’t enough options for climate-conscious boat enthusiasts who wanted a boat that was not only environmentally friendly but fun to drive,” says ZeroJet CTO and co-founder Neil Mans. “We want to bring the buzz into electric boats rather than the traditional putt-putt solutions available previously for small boats.”
Electric boating
A common application of ZeroJet’s product is within the tenders to larger boats. The firm says its lithium iron phosphate technology provides a safer electric propulsion solution to provide boat owners and captains peace of mind.
Several leading boatbuilders are now well into their development programmes to integrate ZeroJet’s electric jet solution into their 2024 boat release programmes.
Latvian boatbuilder Spark Boats is one firm already accepting orders for its lightweight composite tender with integrated ZeroJet powered solution.
In 2020, the founders raised seed capital, and with their new team of ten, successfully built an electric jet tender in partnership with Offshore Cruising Tenders.
In 2022, ZeroJet raised a Series A round, led by Venture capital company, Movac. The oversubscribed round also garnered support from Australia’s Investible Climate Tech Fund, the NZX listed Booster Innovation Fund as well as family offices, high net worth individuals and repeat investment from NZGCP, Impact Enterprise Fund and K1W1.
In 2023, Highfield Boats revealed two new electric tenders with two different partners, ZeroJet and ePropulsion, at boot Düsseldorf.
“ZeroJet’s intellectual property with its compact electric motor and system, combined with the exciting user experience and more importantly the impressive list of boat builders who are creating great boats with our systems makes ZeroJet a company worth watching,” says CEO Mark Robotham.
“We look forward to growing the business in 2024 in partnership with new and existing boat builders and investors as this exciting sector and our success takes form.”
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