E1’s RaceBird Electric Powerboat Literally Flies Over The Water

When it comes to powerboats we are familiar with the usual shapes but E1’s RaceBird Electric Powerboat looks more like an alien spaceship that a speedboat. This single-seater all-electric powerboat has two bright green hydrofoils that allow it to literally fly over the surface of the water. It’s the first of its kind prototype racecraft in the upcoming E1 Series that hopes to make water racing more common as land racing.

Image: E1Series

Sports entrepreneur Alejandro Agag came up with the concept for the E1. After pioneering Formula E and its off-road cousin Extreme E, the entrepreneur has turned his sights to the water pioneering the soon-to-be launched E1 Series.

The E1 series promises to take races to large urban waterways similar to land races. Racing events are envisioned for places like The Waters off Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, the Canals of Venice and Sydney Harbor.

Image: E1Series

The design of the boat was inspired by observing birds flying in what is known as ‘glide mode’ just a few inches off the surface of the water. The inspiration led to the design of a hydrofoil, similar in design to what was used before in electric surfboards. The hydrofoil design allows the body of the RaceBird to rise about a meter off the surface of the water as it accelerates.

The hydrofoil and the design of the boat hull gives the RaceBird a futuristic and sometime otherworldly appearance. The Hydrofoil greatly reduces water-resistance and allows this battery-operated powerboat to reach up to 58 mph with up to 40 minutes of operational time.

A target launch date is set for the Spring of 2023.