Navier unveils new auto-docking feature on its electric hydrofoil boat
Navier showed off what it is calling the first ever auto-docking feature for a hydrofoil electric boat, which should make it even easier for beginner boaters to navigate their watercraft.
The electric boating startup described the feature as part of its larger vision to “increase autonomy of water vessels and unlock the world’s waterways.”
The auto-docking feature has been designed for the company’s N30 electric boat, which Navier described as “the only boat of its kind to go from sketch to flight in under a year.”
When implemented, the auto-docking feature will allow boaters to dock with a single push of a button.
As Navier’s CEO and founder Sampriti Bhattacharyya explained, the new autonomous feature has been in high demand:
Autodocking was the most requested feature by our existing customer base. Being the first in the industry to deliver this is a huge milestone for the company and the future of the boating experience. We’re rethinking design from the ground up – with software at the core – enabling us to deliver a product that is highly differentiated on customer experience and performance. Our goal is to bring the joy of sustainable boating to anyone, even those who love water but are overwhelmed at the thought of handling a boat.
The N30’s new auto-docking system will used advanced computer vision and an array of sensors to precisely gauge the location of the boat compared to the selected slip, while simultaneously avoiding obstacles and compensating for outside forces such as wind.
The boat’s two independently steerable motors are key to the process, as they can allow the Navier N30 to perform docking maneuvers such as pure translational and turning movements that other single and fixed rear engine boats cannot achieve.
The auto-docking system is designed to hold the boat in a fixed position once it has reached its target point, which will allow the boat to be secured to the dock. Boaters can of course take over manual control of the boat to use the steering and maneuvering capabilities of the motors in manual docking mode via a joystick in the cockpit.
The auto-docking feature will become available for beta users in the boat’s 2023 edition. That model has already sold out, but customers can reserve the 2024 edition of the N30 with the option to add auto-docking. Reservations require a refundable deposit of US $1,000, though the final price of the boat is expected to be at least US $375,000.
The N30 is described as the first commercially available electric hydrofoilling boat built in the US and Navier claims it is the longest range electric boat in the world in its size class. It currently has few competitors in the hydrofoil electric boat category, though companies like Swedish hydrofoil e-boat maker Candela have been selling highly efficient electric boats for years. Other electric boat makers are also targeting the luxury electric watercraft market, though their conventional hulls require significantly larger batteries and higher power motors to achieve comparable ranges to electric hydrofoil boats.
Hydrofoill electric boats are around 10x more efficient than traditional gas boats thanks to the significantly reduced drag when the boat flies on its foils, not to mention the advantages of high-efficiency electric powertrains. The Navier N30 recently showed off its performance carrying 10 people at America’s Cup where it completed “the longest range trip of any electric boat in its class” at the event.
Navier has already raised over US $10 million in seed funding from Next View Ventures, Liquid 2, GFC, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, and Primavera Capital. While its first product is squarely in the recreational boat category, the company seems set to chart a path similar to Candela that includes commercial electric boats such as ferries and water taxies.
What do you think? Will you be letting a computer dock your third-of-a-million-dollar boat anytime soon? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comment section below!
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Believe it or not, you can lease an EV for under $200 a month. New deals on models like the 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Kia EV6 are hard to pass up this month.
Electric vehicles have been all over the news lately, with the Trump administration threatening to end federal incentives and introducing new tariffs that are expected to lead to higher prices.
On the positive side, new EV models are arriving, giving buyers more options and driving prices down. Many automakers reported record US electric car sales in the first three months of 2024.
GM remained the number two seller of EVs behind Tesla after sales doubled in Q1 2025. With the new Equinox, Blazer, and Silverado EVs rolling out, Chevy is now the fastest-growing EV brand in the US. Ford’s Mustang Mach-E is off to its best sales start since launching, with over 11,600 models sold in the first quarter.
With the 2025 models rolling out and about 15 new EVs arriving this year, many automakers are introducing steep discounts to move vehicles off the lot.
EVs for lease for under $200 a month in April
Although the decade-old Nissan LEAF remains one of the most affordable this April at just $149 per month, there are a few EVs under $200 right now that are worth taking a look at.
The new 2025 Hyundai IONIQ might be the best EV deal this month, with leases as low as $199. Hyundai is currently promoting a 24-month lease deal with $3,999 due at signing.
Hyundai upgraded the electric SUV with a bigger battery for more range (now up to 318 miles), a sleek new look inside and out, and it now comes with an NACS port so you can charge it at Tesla Superchargers.
The offer is for the IONIQ 5 SE RWD Standard Range, which has a driving range of up to 245 miles. For just $229 a month, you can snag the SE RWD model, which has a range of up to 318 miles and a more powerful (225 horsepower) electric motor. It’s also a 24-month lease with $3,999 due at signing.
To sweeten the deal, Hyundai is offering a free ChargePoint Home Flex Level 2 EV charger with the purchase or lease of any 2024 or 2025 IONIQ 5. If you already have one, you can opt for a $400 public charging credit.
After slashing lease prices this month, the 2025 Nissan Ariya is actually cheaper than the LEAF in some regions. In Southern California, the 2025 Nissan Ariya Evolve AWD is listed at just $129 per month. The AWD model has a range of up to 272 miles.
The deal is for 36 months, with $4,409 due at signing. In April, Nissan cut Ariya lease prices to around $239 in most other parts of the country.
Kia has a few EVs available to lease for under $200 a month in April. The 2025 Kia Niro EV Wind is listed at just $129 for 24 months, with $3,999 due at signing. Kia’s crossover SUV has EPA-estimated range of 253 miles.
The 2024 EV6 may be worth considering at just $179 for 24 months ($3,999 due at signing). In California, the EV6 Light Long Range RWD is only slightly more than the Niro Wind.
In most other parts of the country, you can still find the EV6 for under $200 a month. The Light Long Range RWD trim offers up to 310 miles of EPA-estimated range.
| Lease Price | Term (months) |
Amount Due at Signing | Driving Range | |
| 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 SE RWD Standard Range | $199 | 24 | $3,999 | 245 miles |
| 2024 Kia EV6 Light Long Rang RWD | $179 | 24 | $3,999 | 310 miles |
| 2024 Kia Niro EV Wind | $129 | 24 | $3,999 | 253 miles |
| 2025 Nissan Ariya Evolve AWD | $129 | 36 | $4,409 | 272 miles |
| 2025 Nissan LEAF S FWD | $149 | 36 | $2,629 | 149 miles |
| 2024 Fiat 500 INSPI(RED) | $199 | 24 | $2,999 | 149 miles |
And don’t forget the 2024 Fiat 500e, which is now listed at just $199 for 24 months with $2,999 due at signing. The electric hatchback offers a range of up to 149 miles.
If you are looking to spend a little more, check out our list of EVs you can lease for under $300 a month.
Ready to snag the savings while they are still here? At under $200 a month, some of these EV lease deals are hard to pass up right now. Check out our links below to find deals in your area.
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![The US’s first solar panels over canals pilot is now online [video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/Project-Nexus-solar-canal.jpg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Project Nexus, the first solar panel canopies over irrigation canals in the US, is now online in California, and there are plans to expand the project to other areas.
Project Nexus is a $20 million pilot in central California’s Turlock Irrigation District launched in October 2022. The project team is exploring solar over canal design, deployment, and co-benefits using canal infrastructure and the electrical grid.
India already has solar panels over canals, but Project Nexus is the first of its kind in the US.
The Turlock Irrigation District was the first irrigation district formed in California in 1887. It provides irrigation water to 4,700 growers who farm around 150,000 acres in the San Joaquin Valley.
Project Nexus will explore whether the solar panels reduce water evaporation as a result of midday shade and wind mitigation, create improvements to water quality through reduced vegetative growth, reduce canal maintenance as a result of reduced vegetative growth, and, of course, generate renewable electricity.
The California Department of Water Resources, utility company Turlock Irrigation District, Marin County, California-based water and energy project developer Solar AquaGrid, and The University of California, Merced, are partnering on the pilot. Project Nexus originated from a 2021 research project led by UC Merced alumna and project scientist Brandi McKuin.
Solar panels were installed at two sites over both wide- and narrow-span sections of Turlock Irrigation District canals in Stanislaus County, in various orientations. The sections range from 20 feet wide to 100 feet wide. University of California, Merced has positioned research equipment at both sites to collect baseline data so the researchers can decide where solar will work and where it won’t.
In February 2023, Project Nexus announced it would also deploy long-term iron flow battery storage in the form of two ESS 75kW turnkey “Energy Warehouse” batteries.
You can learn more about Project Nexus here:
Read more: In a US first, California will pilot solar-panel canopies over canals
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