ED-TEC LAUNCHES 9.5M ELECTRIC RIB: 50 KNOTS TOP SPEED

When pioneers and Believers come together, truly great things can happen. So it has been with German company eD-TEC – pioneers of a new dawn for high-performance all-electric boating, alongside a growing Believer Team of partners – which has unveiled an all-new, high-performance, all-electric RIB, the first of which is currently undergoing sea trials.

To realise this extraordinary new vessel, eD-TEC has formed a strategic alliance with additional Believers, each bringing special capabilities in e-mobility. The new Believers for this strategic partnership will be announced shortly.

The team was able to develop and build the performance carbon monohull with eD-TEC’s revolutionary propulsion system in just nine months, enlisting the expertise of renowned boatbuilding pioneer Sven Akermann who is known for delivering performance and lightweight construction as well as no-nonsense clarity without compromise.

Named the eD 32 c-ultra, the new model – the first of which is nearing completion in Germany – is based on a proven Akermann design, modified in the aft section to cater to eD-TEC’s revolutionary eD-QDrive 1 propulsion units, surface drives, eD-Technology Stack and battery pack. The boat will be delivered in early summer this year.

Measuring 9.5 metres LOA with a 3.2-metre beam and just 0.84-metre draft, the new RIB offers the perfect platform for lake and coastal exploring alike. A 30-knot cruise and 50-knot top speed deliver zero-emission, zero-noise thrill rides, while an optional jet thruster system means the boat is super manoeuvrable in tight spaces, making it perfect for superyacht guest operations.

Full-spec flyer

Alongside the performance hull, the c-ultra features a central helm console with two seats and a full glass bridge comprising an Axiom 15.6-inch MFD for navigation and a second screen for systems monitoring, plus a wired MOB system and steering and throttle controls. There’s a forward storage compartment plus that large bathing platform with an integrated swim ladder aft of the sunpad, and a hardtop offering shade and protection from the elements over the helm.

There are also extensive options available, including alternative colours, adding a modular sunpad with two additional forward-facing seats, adding a head and a shower, a forward console seat and table plus 36-litre fridge, Ullmann seating, radar, sonar, autopilot, wireless MOB, an entertainment system, and even solar panels on the hardtop that can be used to run the domestic and entertainment systems. Owners can also specify additional sun awnings, a performance prop set, the foil-assist system, and a jet thruster system for improved low-speed manoeuvrability.

Power boating

The first hull is equipped with more than 100kWh of batteries in eD-TEC’s slimline battery pack form, which allows for a range of up to 30 nautical miles on a single charge. These connect via the Technology Stack and AI BOX to the self-contained eD-QDrive 1 drive units, which contain the motors, gearing and surface-piercing propellers. The sealed drive units not only hold all components – making them maintenance-free – but they also offer the ultimate in plug-and-play convenience, with the entire drive unit featuring just two connectors and taking less than an hour to unmount and mount through the transom of the boat. What’s more, the AI system allows for over-the-air (OTA) updates, which means the drives can be continually improved as the tech backbone is further refined and developed by eD-TEC.