The University of Western Australia teamed up with Perth-based start-up company Electro.Aero, and funding sponsor Galaxy Resources, to develop the world’s first electric hydrofoil personal watercraft, named WaveFlyer. The zero-emission vessel operates rising above the water.
This is part of the Renewable Energy Vehicle Project (REV), an initiative formed by The University of Western Australia to design and develop environmentally sustainable technologies for future transportation, to tackle growing air pollution and global warming.
The WaveFlyer appears similar to a conventional jet-ski when stationary, but rises above the water during operation using an actively stabilised hydrofoil propulsion system.
The vessel is much quieter, more energy efficient and produces no emissions compared to petrol powered-alternatives.
UWA REV Director, Professor Thomas Braunl, said WaveFlyer built on previous work of the team that developed Australia’s first electric jet-ski in 2015.
It is loaded with two kilowatt-hours of energy in lithium-ion batteries, so the watercraft can operate for more than 30 minutes while carrying two riders. The new WaveFlyer feels more like flying above water rather than riding a conventional jet-ski. I can see tremendous commercial potential for this eco-friendly watercraft,
…Professor Braunl said.
Chief Technology Officer and Co-founder of Electro.Aero Joshua Portlock said the technology was not only environmentally friendly, but it would improve the safety, experience and efficiency of personal watercraft.
We are very excited about the WaveDrive stabilised hydrofoil electric propulsion system we developed for the WaveFlyer prototype, as it is a technology that could help revolutionise the watercraft industry,
…Mr Portlock said.