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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On today’s battle-ready episode of Quick Charge, it’s Elon Musk vs. the world as big players position themselves for control of enough lithium to build 600 million electric cars and the rest of the industry squares up to Tesla in the battle for market leadership.
While Windrose is making sales and expanding into new markets, the Tesla Semi is still in limited tests, Robotaxi launches as a “ride hailing service” in California with randos in the drivers’ seat and Academy Award nominated actor/noted college football analyst Timothée Chalamet teams up with Lucid to steal (even more) sales from the embattled Model S and X lines.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Retrospec, the makers of sleek, powerful e-bikes and outdoor gear built for everyday adventure. Quick Charge listeners can get 10% off their next e-bike ride through August 14 with the exclusive code ELECTREK10 only at retrospec.com.
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If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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EV charging company ezVOLTz has partnered with Driivz, the EV software arm of Vontier, to make its “Charging as a Service” platform even smarter and more reliable for fleets, businesses, and state and local governments across the US.
If you’re not familiar with ezVOLTz, it’s a full-service EV charging provider. It handles everything, from installing hardware-agnostic chargers to managing the backend with its software platform, ezCONNECT. Now, ezVOLTz is plugging into Driivz’s charging and energy management tech to help run things even more smoothly.
With Driivz’s help, ezVOLTz plans to keep its network humming with 24/7 monitoring and real-time issue detection. Driivz’s Alert Management System can auto-fix up to 80% of charger hiccups remotely without sending a tech on-site. That means more uptime and fewer headaches for drivers and site owners.
“EV adoption is surging, and drivers and the companies and entities that serve them need smart, connected, and reliable charging options,” said ezVOLTz CEO Sam Malhotra. “The Driivz team and their smart charging and energy management solutions are a natural fit in bolstering our services.”
The partnership also gives ezVOLTz new tools to grow its network. Driivz’s software tracks usage patterns and charger performance, helping pinpoint the best spots for new installations. Driivz will also support the ezVOLTz app, letting users plan road trips and find chargers nationwide.
“Reliability and ease-of-use are two of the most important considerations for EV drivers,” said Andrew Bennett, CEO of Driivz. “We’re proud to partner with ezVOLTz in delivering seamless and reliable charging to their customers.”
As more businesses, fleets, and municipalities plug into EVs, partnerships like this one aim to make sure the charging experience keeps up.
Read more: Driivz expands in the US EV charging market with a new HQ
The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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The Subaru BRZ may live on as an EV after all. Subaru wants its share of the sports car market, and an electric BRZ could hit the sweet spot.
Is Subaru launching an electric BRZ?
Subaru discontinued the BRZ in Europe in 2020 after the first generation. Although its twin, the Toyota GR86, was sold until the 2024 model year, the BRZ was released as a US-only model.
In its third generation, it could return as an EV. Speaking with Autocar, Subaru’s European head, David Dello Stritto, said, “Our options are open,” hinting that the BRZ could make a comeback in electric form.
Subaru’s global EV product boss, Inoue Masahiko, confirmed an electric version of the sports car “was under consideration.” He added that Subaru has extensively looked into an EV version of the BRZ with its partner, Toyota.
Masahiko explained that “We did consider electrifying the BRZ and GR86, but the win-win relationship is more important.” So far, “We can’t get the kind of benefits from both sides,” he added.
Subaru is already launching several new electric vehicles in Europe, including the new Uncharted, E-Outback (known as Trailseeker in the US), and an updated Solterra SUV.
Stritto said that an electric sports car will depend on the success of these models first, especially the Uncharted. According to Subaru’s European boss, the Japanese automaker feels “very positively about Subaru enthusiasts, but we need to see how Uncharted does first.”
As for an “electrified” powertrain, or hybrid, Masahiko said the vehicle’s packaging “would make it difficult,” adding an EV version would be “easier” to create.
The comments come after Stritto told Autocar last week that a new entry-level EV could also be in the works. However, that will also depend on how well the Uncharted sells.
For those in the US, don’t worry – Subaru is not planning to discontinue the BRZ. If it did launch as an EV, would you consider one? It would go up against the new Hyundai IONIQ 6 N and Tesla Model 3 Performance.
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