BLT’s 42 mph electric ‘hyperfoil’ jet ski has already received 3x more orders than it can produce
Bay Area startup Boundary Layer Technologies (BLT) has been taking pre-orders for its all-electric, jet ski-like hydrofoil it calls Valo. Despite still being in the prototype phase, the demand for what its makers describe as a “hyperfoil” is clearly there. The company’s initial production run of the electric jet ski variant is sold out well past 2023.
Boundary Layer Technologies was founded in 2018 in the Bay Area of California, where it is currently headquartered in Alameda. BLT’s team consists of engineers that have helped design and develop self-landing rockets, hyperloops, drones, and foiling racing yachts.
However, BLT is taking its biggest plunge with its flagship product – see Valo below. This all-electric hydrofoiling spin on watercraft (that’s actually the more accurate term than “jet ski”) was developed as recently as 2022 after the BLT decided to shift its focus from hydrofoiling container ships to something significantly smaller… they’re also cheaper and can be brought to market more quickly.
Valo is an electric watercraft that differs from a jet ski like Taiga’s, for instance; it uses hydrofoils to lift the entire hull of the water. This not only uses less energy (a very precious commodity in any EV, let alone one of such compact size) but also produces virtually zero wake. Add zero noise pollution, thanks to its electric motors, and Valo is like a sleek aquatic ninja. (So many Kawasaki references today.)
As BLT works toward its initial production run of the electric Valo jet skis hyperfoils, it shared that it has already sold out. Check this bad boy out.
BLT has (literally) elevated the electric jet ski with Valo
According to recent coverage of the Valo hyperfoil by PlugBoats, the hydrofoiling cousin to the electric jet ski is already sold out through 2023. After opening pre-orders late last year, the startup shared it had garnered $1 million in orders in the first three weeks.
Most recently, BLT shared that it actually received three times the number of orders it has the capacity to produce this year – a promising sign for a nascent form of sustainable mobility on the water. Per BLT CEO Ed Kearney:
Valo will be a complete revolution to personal watercraft. The first Jetski was on the market 50 years ago this year, and it’s time for a major upgrade. Valo will be fast, agile, and tremendously exhilarating, all while being near silent and leaving zero wake. It will be like flying a stunt plane but on water. We see this as a completely new form of water based mobility.
We also have some pertinent specs that vary a bit from the original debut last year. Valo can reach a top speed of 42 mph and a cruise speed of 30 mph. A minimum speed of 15 mph is required to get the electric jet ski up and hydrofoiling.
When cruising, Valo can deliver up to 2 hours and 20 minutes on the water, depending on wind and water conditions, of course. The vessel can replenish in about 3 hours on a Level 2, 240V AC charger. The watercraft is built from carbon fiber composites, titanium, and stainless steel to optimize strength while limiting weight (430 pounds in total). It can also carry two passengers.
One last cool feature is Valo’s proprietary Skydrive system designed by BLT, which measures the position and behavior of the watercraft 100 times per second, then determines the ideal position of each of the control surfaces before semi-autonomously adjusting accordingly. This ensures a smooth, stable ride the team compares to flying.
Whether you want to call it an electric jet ski, watercraft, hydrofoil, or hyperfoil – your chances of riding one this year are close to zero if you haven’t already gotten your pre-order in. However, 2024 is a new year, and BLT still has production slots available. The starting MSRP of the Valo is $59,000, but you can reserve one with a fully refundable deposit of $500. Watch this Valo in action below:
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Honda is set to pull the covers off a new electric motorcycle on September 2, teasing the upcoming reveal with camouflaged images on the brand’s social media. The upcoming unveiling is sparking speculation that this could be one of the first models in Honda’s long-promised push into more powerful motorcycle electrification.
The teasers show the shape of a motorcycle with fairly conventional proportions, including a two-up seat, standard riding posture, single-sided rear swingarm, and no visible foot-forward scooter ergonomics, which suggests this will be an honest-to-goodness motorcycle rather than an e-scooter. The bodywork looks sporty but subdued, lacking the aggressive fairings of a supersport, which may point to a street-oriented commuter or naked bike. In fact, it looks a lot like the EV Fun Concept unveiled by Honda last October in Milan, seen above.
Street commuter bikes are common among electric motorcycle makers. They capitalize on the strengths of electric drivetrains without requiring the long range associated with touring motorcycles. It’s a move we’ve seen play out time and again among brands like Can-Am, Kawasaki, Ryvid, and others who have produced smaller, urban-focused electric motorcycles in the last few years.
This aligns with Honda’s previously stated plans. The company announced years ago that it would introduce at least 10 electric motorcycle models by 2025, ranging from commuter vehicles to high-performance machines. So far, its progress has been modest, with small-scale launches focused around electric scooters and prototype testbeds like the CR Electric motocross bike.
Whispers from Honda have hinted at an upcoming street bike, and some observers believe this new model could be the production version of that EV Fun Concept from EICMA Milan Motorcycle Show. Whether it uses Honda’s swappable batteries like the EM1 e: remains to be seen, but it’s likely to target daily riders in urban markets rather than aiming for long-range touring or high-speed sport performance.
Honda has been characteristically cautious in its entry into the electric space, especially compared to startup rivals and brands like Zero, LiveWire, and Ryvid. But the September 2 reveal may signal a new chapter as the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer finally takes electric motorcycles more seriously.
We’ll be watching closely to see what Honda brings to the table, especially as legacy brands start feeling pressure from both regulators and riders to electrify their lineups.
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With its tire-blistering acceleration and record-setting performance, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra has been getting attention throughout the auto industry, impressing everyone who’s seen it. That “everyone” now seems to include the OG supercar brand, itself.
CarNewsChina posted pictures from a Weibo user that reportedly show a Xiaomi SU7 Ultra exiting the storied Ferrari factory in Maranello, Italy. According to a Chinese blogger going by 西米露在博洛尼亚 (which seems to translate to “Sago Dessert in Bologna”), the prancing horse brand is actively benchmarking the Chinese hypercar for its own upcoming EV.
The SU7 Ultra was definitely coming from inside Ferrari’s facility. After verification, we learned this specific vehicle was officially purchased by Ferrari for testing, and the development of their next-generation electric platform.
Yet another Chinese auto blogger, 苏黎世贝勒爷, claims that Ferrari representatives visited Xiaomi headquarters last year, allegedly to discuss the joint development of next-generation high-performance EV motors.
The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra made its debut last year, promising 1,548 hp, sub 2.0-second 0-60 mph times, and a top speed well over 200 mph – all at a price lower than a Tesla Model S Plaid or Porsche Taycan Turbo GT. The car sold out almost immediately after it was unveiled, racking up some 50,000 orders almost overnight.
The new electric benchmark
In the automotive world, “benchmarking” is a process in which car companies systematically tear down each others’ competitive products to compare everything from sound insulation, vehicle ride and handling, component materials, and even manufacturing methods against their own or against other industry leaders. The goal is to evaluate performance, cost, quality, and other key metrics, effectively figuring out “where they stand” in the market.
If Ferrari really did buy an SU7 to benchmark it against their own upcoming electric supercar, it’s more than just a curiosity – it could mean that the highest tiers of automotive innovation have shifted from West to East. Maybe forever.
Featured image via Xiaomi; sources throughout the post.
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We’re finally getting our first teases of the upgraded 2027 Chevy Bolt, built on GM’s battery/motor platform formerly known as Ultium. So far, so good for the vehicle, which will be revealed later this Fall.
Chevy took to social media today to tease the 2027 Chevy Bolt, saying, “You asked, we listened. The #ChevyBolt is back and better than ever. More this fall. 👀”
Chevy ended the original Bolt program with the 2023 model, which was loved by a loyal group of customers (including myself). Some of the major gripes, including charging speed and rear brake lights, already look to be addressed. Also, a new more aggressive fascia is debuting.
Electrek’s take
GM has done an incredible job keeping the 2027 Bolt under wraps. It will be the first GM vehicle with a native NACS port after the Cadillac Optiq-V, which we spied in Seattle last week.
Hopefully, the new Bolt will have improved charging speeds over and above the 54kW that previous Bolts adhered to. One possible downgrade is that the old Bolt’s amazing wireless CarPlay/Android Auto system will likely be replaced by GM’s move to Android’s built-in experience. For a few years, the Chevy Bolt was the most affordable long-range EV, and it won our 2022 Electrek car of the year for its versatility and price.
I would, of course, like to see the new Bolt as a hot hatchback, but GM CEO Mary Barra has hinted that it will likely take more of the EUV’s SUV form factor. Things like AWD options, SuperCruise, pricing, power and range are yet to be revealed, but stay tuned to Electrek for the latest on Bolt developments.
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