LIND is combining the artistry of crafting surfboards with modern electric drivetrains
A young marine electric mobility specialist called LIND is delivering a fresh take on watersports by combining the art of surfboard design with sustainability. LIND’s flagship electric surfboard, called Canvas, has hit the market and is the first of what LIND promises to be a series of “game-changing boards.”
LIND was founded in 2021 with the goal of addressing the gap of riders who either have water but no tide or are too busy to get out and ride when those waves are their easiest. The result is a new electric surfboard that not only gives people the freedom to ride wherever and whenever they want but also pays tribute to traditional surfboard craftsmanship.
That begins with the LIND Canvas, an electric surfboard its makers describe as a micro marine vessel that prioritizes performance while still embodying the look and feel of surf pieces celebrated in the community. This “future classic” electric surfboard comes in two sizes and everything you need to get out on your local lake or marina to start cruising around and turning some heads; check it out.
LIND is bringing added style to electric surfboards
LIND has recently begun accepting preorders for its Canvas electric surfboard, a new design rooted in the company’s mix of Swedish and Californian heritage. LIND’s four years of development have come to fruition in the Canvas, which it describes as “a new way to play.”
The core of this new electric surfboard is the Canvas’ state-of-the-art electric drivetrain technology, sleekly hidden within its underside. The system contains a waterjet that can generate 20 kW of power (nearly 30 hp/3.1 kWh), delivering riders speeds of up to 37 mph (60 km/h). That jet can empty a full bathtub in under 2 seconds (We probably wouldn’t recommend trying that, though, so you’ll have to take LIND’s word for it).
LIND also states that the Canvas arrives as one of the world’s most energy-dense electric vehicles at nearly one hp/kg—twice that of a Tesla Model S or a Formula 1 racecar. The electric surfboard’s swappable battery pack can deliver up to 45 minutes of ride time and recharge in one hour (230-240V) and two hours on a standard 120V plug.
Customers will notice, however, that the Canvas is significantly heavier than a standard surfboard due to its battery and drivetrain, which, combined with the board itself, weigh 74 pounds (33 kg) in total. Simply looking at the Canvas surfboard, especially from the top, it’s hard to notice that it’s electric because LIND made an extra effort to deliver a piece that embodies the look and feel of high-end handcrafted boards that have long been a staple in the traditional surf segment. The company’s co-founder Alex Lind elaborated:
Our approach to product design has been to start from the outside in: to start with a surfboard –something organic, natural and that we all truly respect –and to find a way to seamlessly integrate the boundary-pushing technology required. Our brand vision, on the other hand, is to peel back the layers of what makes surf so attractive and apply those qualities to LIND: the craftsmanship of board shaping and deep connection between a surfer and their board, the ease of ownership, the youthfulness the sport inspires and the artistry of storytelling and filmmaking.
The Canvas electric surfboard is available in two sizes: a shortboard (6’3″ x 20 ⅘” x 5 7/10″, 66 liters) and a mid-length board (6’9″ x 23 ½” x 5 7/10″, 88 liters). Both feature the same drivetrain technology that is controlled using a fine-tuned wireless handheld remote. The result is variety in its initial lineup that gives riders the choice between sharp agressive turns or casual cruising on the water. Per LIND:
In shaping and designing the boards, the common goal among LIND’s team of surfboard shapers, industrial designers and electro-mechanical engineers was to create a board that is an extension of oneself. One that lets the surfer’s eyes lead the way, responding to their movements naturally and facilitating a state of presence and flow, enabling them to focus on the simple beauty of each turn, their surroundings and that very moment.
As previously stated, the LIND Canvas electric surfboard is available for pre-order now with a $2,500 deposit and starts at $24,950 (excl. VAT). Each package, shortboard or mid-length, includes the board, drivetrain, remote, charger, board bag, fins, and more. You can see it in action in LIND’s launch video below:
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Kia’s electric SUVs are taking over. The EV3 is the best-selling retail EV in the UK this year, giving Kia its strongest sales start since it arrived 34 years ago. And it’s not just in the UK. Kia just had its best first quarter globally since it started selling cars in 1962.
Kia EV3 is the best-selling EV in the UK through March
In March, Kia sold a record nearly 20,000 vehicles in the UK, making it the fourth best-selling brand. It was also the second top-seller of electrified vehicles (EVs, PHEVs, and HEVs), accounting for over 55% of sales.
The EV3 remained the best-selling retail EV in the UK last month. Including the EV6, three-row EV9, and Niro EV, electric vehicles represented 21% of Kia’s UK sales in March.
Kia said the EV3 “started with a bang” in January, darting out as the UK’s most popular EV in retail sales. Through March, Kia’s electric SUV has held on to the crown. With the EV3 rolling out, Kia sold over 7,000 electric cars through March, nearly 50% more than in Q1 2024.
The EV3 was the best-selling retail EV in the UK in the first quarter and the fourth best-selling EV overall, including commercial vehicles.
Starting at £33,005 ($42,500), Kia said it’s the “brand’s most affordable EV yet.” It’s available with two battery packs, 58.3 kWh or 81.48 kWh, good for 430 km (270 miles) and 599 km (375 miles) of WLTP range, respectively.
With new EVs on the way, this could be just the start. Kia is launching several new EVs in the UK this year, including the EV4 sedan (and hatchback) and EV5 SUV. It also confirmed that the first PV5 electric vans will be delivered to customers by the end of the year.
Electrek’s Take
Globally, Kia sold a record 772,351 vehicles in the first quarter, its best since it started selling cars in 1962. With the new EV4, the brand’s first electric sedan and hatchback, launching this year, Kia looks to build on its momentum in 2025.
Kia has also made it very clear that it wants to be a global leader in the electric van market with its new Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) business, starting with the PV5 later this year.
Earlier today, we learned Kia’s midsize electric SUV, the EV5, is the fourth best-selling EV in Australia through March, outselling every BYD vehicle (at least for now). The EV5 is rolling out to new markets this year, including Canada, the UK, South Korea, and Mexico. However, it will not arrive in the US.
For those in the US, there are still a few Kia EVs to look forward to. Kia is launching the EV4 globally, including in the US, later this year. Although no date has been set, Kia confirmed the EV3 is also coming. It’s expected to arrive in mid-2026.
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Environment
Podcast: Tesla’s disastrous deliveries, more Trump tariffs, EV delivery numbers, and more
In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss Tesla’s disastrous deliveries, more Trump tariffs, EV delivery numbers, and more.
The show is live every Friday at 4 p.m. ET on Electrek’s YouTube channel.
As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.
After the show ends at around 5 p.m. ET, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:
We now have a Patreon if you want to help us avoid more ads and invest more in our content. We have some awesome gifts for our Patreons and more coming.
Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the podcast:
Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 4:00 p.m. ET (or the video after 5 p.m. ET):
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Charging your EV in freezing weather could soon become dramatically faster, thanks to a big breakthrough from the University of Michigan engineers.
Neil Dasgupta, U-M associate professor of mechanical engineering and materials science and engineering and corresponding author of a study published in Joule, and his team have developed an innovative battery structure and coating that can boost lithium-ion EV battery charging speeds by a whopping 500%, even at frigid temperatures as low as 14F (-10C). “Charging an EV battery takes 30 to 40 minutes even for aggressive fast charging, and that time increases to over an hour in the winter,” Dasgupta explained. “This is the pain point we want to address.”
Freezing weather has traditionally been harsh on EV batteries because it slows down the movement of lithium ions, resulting in slower charging speeds and reduced battery life. Automakers have tried thickening battery electrodes to extend driving range, but this makes some of the lithium hard to access, making charging even slower.
Previously, Dasgupta’s group sped up battery charging using lasers to carve pathways around 40 microns in size into the graphite anode. This allowed lithium ions to reach deeper into the battery more quickly. However, cold-weather performance still lagged because a chemical layer formed on the electrodes, blocking the ions. Dasgupta compares this barrier to “trying to cut cold butter,” making charging inefficient.
To solve this, the team coated the battery with a thin, glassy material made of lithium borate-carbonate—only 20 nanometers thick—which prevented the problematic chemical layer from forming. Combined with the microscopic channels, the results were groundbreaking: the modified batteries retained 97% of their capacity even after 100 fast-charging cycles in freezing temperatures.
“We envision this approach as something that EV battery manufacturers could adopt without major changes to existing factories,” Dasgupta noted. “For the first time, we’ve shown a pathway to simultaneously achieve extreme fast charging at low temperatures, without sacrificing the energy density of the lithium-ion battery.”
This innovation could tackle one of the biggest concerns holding potential EV buyers back.
The new battery tech is moving closer to commercialization, supported by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization (MTRAC) Advanced Transportation Innovation Hub. The research devices were built at U-M’s Battery Lab and studied with help from the Michigan Center for Materials Characterization.
U-M Innovation Partnerships assisted the team in applying for patents, and Arbor Battery Innovations has licensed the technology for market deployment. Dasgupta and the University of Michigan hold financial stakes in Arbor Battery Innovations.
Read more: California now has nearly 50% more EV chargers than gas nozzles
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