Navier delivers N30 electric hydrofoiling boat with ‘world’s longest range’ to first customer
Maritime electrification startup Navier has hit a significant milestone today by reaching commercial production of its flagship electric hydrofoiling boat and delivering the first model to a customer. Better still, the young company has done so in an impressively short time.
Navier is a Bay Area startup founded by two MIT alumni focused on building a new type of watercraft that cuts running costs by 90%. That approach combines hydrofoils, electrification, advanced composites, and an intelligent software system into one sustainable and cost-effective watercraft that can hydrofoil above the water, reducing drag and maximizing range.
The startup caught our attention in February 2022 after unveiling its flagship electric hydrofoil, the Navier 27 (N27), followed by a successful seed funding round totaling $7.2 billion to get those initial vessels into production.
The N27 would evolve into the Navier N30 electric hydrofoiling boat, which was seen being tested in late December 2022 and touted by its makers to become the “longest-range electric boat” on the market and “the first commercially available electric hydrofoiling boat in the US.”
We’d argue that plenty of other electric hydrofoiling boats are on the market or arriving soon, including Candela, Vessev, and even a single-passenger design coming from Foil.One.
Regardless, Navier has made good on its promise to bring its first electric hydrofoiling boat to production and has just delivered its first N30 to a customer, a mere 2.5 years after unveiling the initial prototype design.
Navier N30 boats hit the market, with more builds to follow
Navier recently delivered a special edition of its first electric hydrofoiling boat, called the N30 Pioneer Edition, to a customer in California, marking the milestone with a celebration at the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco. During the event, Navier founder and CEO Sampriti Bhattacharyya spoke:
This is an extraordinary milestone, not only for Navier, but for the American maritime industry and for the electric vehicle market as a whole. We started Navier to build the next generation of clean, highly efficient marine vessels that combine engineering excellence with world class craftsmanship, and the N30 Pioneer Edition is a major step toward realizing that vision. By delivering the most high-tech electric boat available today in just two and a half years, we’re putting ‘America’ back in ‘maritime.’
The N30 is not only the first all-electric hydrofoiling boat in the US market, it’s also the longest range electric boat in the world, with the open variant getting almost 100 miles at cruising speed on a single charge. The N30 is like a high-tech luxury F22 Raptor on the water, with a flight control system used by US Department of Defense vessels that enables highly precise maneuverability at speed while also ensuring stability and reliability. We are proud to be building the next generation of maritime transportation right here in the Bay Area.
As its nomenclature alludes to, the N30 is thirty feet long and propelled by twin 90 kW propulsion systems and aerospace-grade redundancies to deliver maximum safety. When it reaches the plane, the Navier boat glides above waves up to four feet high, offering a smoother and quieter ride than traditional vessels.
In its standard configuration, the N30 boat can travel over 75 nautical miles at a speed of 20 knots (23 mph) and is equipped with Navier’s proprietary maritime tech stack, which includes a high-performance flight control system, navigation platform, sensors, and actuator systems.
With the first customer delivery now complete, Navier said it will continue its lean, agile approach with “unwavering determination.” The startup allotted ten builds of the N30 Pioneer Edition in 2024, all of which have already been pre-sold.
Navier says the additional N30 boats are scheduled for delivery to buyers in the luxury hospitality space for use as guest amenities and to other individual buyers.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
If you haven’t noticed, Genesis is quickly making a name for itself in the US. The luxury automaker now has 60 sales outlets as it expands into new US states. With new EVs launching, Genesis is eyeing a bigger share of the US luxury market.
Hyundai Motor Group’s Genesis brand is quietly emerging as a powerhouse in the US luxury market. Genesis marked its entry into the luxury segment in 2008 as a Hyundai-branded model.
In 2015, Hyundai announced Genesis would become an independent luxury brand. Since launching its first vehicle in the US, the luxury brand’s sales have surged from 7,000 in 2016 to over 69,000 last year. It even outsold Nissan’s Infiniti.
According to Genesis, this is just the start. The Korean luxury brand wants an even bigger slice of the market as it eyes rivals like Porsche.
A big reason behind the brand’s confidence is its new lineup of stylishly electric models. Genesis sells three EVs in the US: The GV60, Electrified G80, and Electrified GV70.
After introducing the Electrified GV70 just last year, the electric SUV is already Genesis’ top-selling EV in the US. According to Kelley Blue Book, Genesis sold 2,343 electric GV70 models in the US through September.
Genesis eyes a bigger share of the US luxury market
Altogether, the luxury brand’s EV sales reached over 4,600 through the first nine months of 2024, topping Porsche (4,291) and Volvo (3,644).
Genesis made a statement at the LA Auto Show, unveiling the updated 2026 Electrified GV70. The luxury electric SUV now includes more range and an NACS port so drivers can charge at Tesla Superchargers. It will go on sale in the first half of 2025.
Meanwhile, Genesis showcased its new GV60 Magma Concept at the event, its first dedicated high-performance EV. The brand sees its Magma performance brand rivaling that of Geman luxury brands like Mercedes AMG, BMW M, and Audi RS.
The Genesis GV60 Magma EV will launch next year, spearheading the brand’s “expansion into the realm of high-performance vehicles.”
Genesis enhanced the battery and motor while fine-tuning the chassis, thermodynamics, and profile for more power and efficiency.
It also features an aggressive new design, sitting much lower and wider than the current GV60 model. Genesis added a Magma-exclusive sound system to give it a sports car-like feel in the cockpit.
In April, we got our first look at the G80 EV Magma concept, which could be a potential challenger to Tesla’s Model S Plaid and the Porsche Taycan GT Turbo.
The luxury brand is expected to launch its flagship electric three-row SUV next year, the GV90. Genesis previewed the ultra-luxury EV in March after unveiling the Neolun concept.
Genesis now has 60 sales bases in the US, with new stores in Washington, Minnesota, New York, and Florida. It’s also building 30 in Canada as it expands its presence in the North American luxury market.
The luxury brand is opening a new dedicated design center in California. The “Genesis Design California” will open in the first half of 2025 as it builds out its US network.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
A rumor spreading like wildfire on social media claims BYD will be taking over NIO (NYSE: NIO) as the EV giant gobbles up market share in China. The rumor was posted by a suspected BYD employee, but NIO is denying the claim.
BYD acquiring NIO would be a massive move as China’s leading EV maker continues to dominate the market. But that’s not going to happen.
According to CnEVPost, NIO’s assistant vice president for branding and communications, Ma Lin, denied the rumors that BYD is taking over the company on Friday.
Ma posted a screenshot on social media asking BYD’s general manager of branding and PR, Li Yunfei if the person who posted the fake rumor was an employee.
Earlier today, the suspected employee claimed BYD and NIO were setting up a joint venture. In a Weibo post, the suspect said BYD would have majority control of the partnership with a 51% share while NIO would get the remaining 49% ownership.
Ma told Li that if it was, in fact, a BYD employee, he needed to issue an official clarification and apologize. If not, they can get the police involved together. Li also denied the rumors, saying the claim was seriously untrue.
NIO denies rumors that BYD is taking over the company
This is not the first time rumors surfaced that BYD will be taking over NIO, but because it is a suspected employee, the post has garnered more attention.
BYD is on a major hiring spree as it ramps up production to meet the higher demand. The EV giant now has over 900,000 employees, making it by far the largest A-share listed company in China.
After selling over 500,000 vehicles for the first time in a single month in October, BYD’s surge is heating up as the EV giant expands overseas for growth.
October was BYD’s fifth consecutive record sales month as it closes in on auto leaders like Ford in global deliveries.
NIO is also gaining momentum, with sales topping the 20,000 mark for the sixth straight month in October. With output of its new lower-priced Onvo L60 electric SUV ramping up, NIO expects to continue seeing higher demand.
Ma said on Friday that NIO’s “recent situation is quite good.” The company’s head of PR added, “Cash flow turned positive in the third quarter, gross profit improved in October, earning an extra RMB 100 million, and Onvo (deliveries) will exceed 10,000 in December.”
NIO is launching its third brand, Firefly, with deliveries kicking off in the first half of 2025. The company expects sales to double next year as it works to become profitable by 2026.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Hyundai Motors is recalling 145,235 EVs and other “electrified” vehicles in the US, citing concerns about a loss of driving power, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Friday.
The NHTSA announced this morning that the recall affects selected IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6 EVs, as well as certain luxury Genesis models, including the GV60, GV70, and G80 electrified variants, from the 2022-2025 model years, Reuters reported.
It looks like the issue stems from “the integrated charging control units in these vehicles, which may become damaged and fail to charge the 12-volt battery. This malfunction could lead to a complete loss of drive power, posing safety risks for drivers,” the NHTSA stated.
If you’re an owner of one of these Hyundai models dating 2022-2025, stay tuned. Hyundai has not yet provided a timeline as to when affected vehicles will be repaired.
To make that happen, the company’s dealers will inspect and replace the charging unit and its fuse if necessary, NHTSA said. Free of charge, of course.
Importantly, no crashes, injuries, fatalities, or fires due to this issue have been reported in the US, Hyundai reported.
If you’re an electric vehicle owner, charge up your car at home with rooftop solar panels. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing on solar, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have 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 Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports8 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business2 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway