These e-boats are made for drivin'
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The Eelex 8000 in the water. Photo courtesy of X Shore
Electric boat-maker X Shore, which debuted in the U.S. at the Palm Beach International Boat Show in March, is looking into manufacturing somewhere in America — possibly in Florida.
Why it matters: The company opened its first U.S. logistics office in Sarasota this year and has found "quick demand" in the market for its Eelex 8000 — a high-priced, all-electric boat some call "the Tesla of the Sea."
- Its sales office is in Newport, R.I., but X Shore CEO Jenny Keisu tells Axios that the company is looking into relationships with retailers and partners across the U.S. to facilitate growth.
- As it grows, the company is considering ways to get boats to customers in the states faster than building them in Sweden and then shipping them to the U.S., where the recreational boating market is valued at $20 billion annually.
The company has so far found a good logistics home in Sarasota, Keisu said. Companies like Chris-Craft, Yellowfin and Genmar Holdings all have roots here.
- "It’s one of the biggest boating markets in the world," Keisu said
Background: The incredibly quiet boat is made from recycled materials and operates via touchscreen, smart watch and phone app. X Shore hopes to replace polluting gas-powered vessels with more sustainable boats.
- It has a built-in "Sea Lab" that delivers environmental data and can be equipped for auto-docking with a tech upgrade.
- The 26-foot vessel will reach 35 knots with a cruising speed of 20 knots.
- It has a range of 100 nautical miles at lower speeds.
What we’re watching: While the price tag is a hefty $329,000, Keisu said the boat has a longer lifespan than cars and could get more affordable as new tech gets cheaper.
- She added that X Shore boats are being used by cities for taxi services, by boat-sharing programs, and there are leasing options available.
