Bird-e Marine presented at the Nina Awards - a competition for innovative companies in the nautical field on the Atlantic coast - a hydrofoil electric jet project... An innovation that allowed it to obtain the second prize and on which we tried to find out more... Difficult since Franck Thomas, the director, decided to restrict communication to generate a big surprise effect during his official presentation in Paris, next December.
This first model called Lupo is neither a VNM (Motor Watercraft) nor a beach toy. The category allocated to it by the Ministry of Transport is the hydrofoil. And for its designer, the Lupo is "like a motorcycle mounted on a foil, electric and driven in the same way as a two-wheeler. The sensations felt are between that of a glider and a motorcycle"
Two versions are on the program: one for boaters and one for professionals. Lupo's first model will be the one intended for the general public, with a full-carbon construction, top-of-the-range materials and a high level of personalization: seating, painting, speed... This "limited" edition of 250 units will be entirely handmade and will serve as a showcase for the company's technological know-how.
The foil will reduce friction in the water and increase the PWC's range, in addition to the 4.5 kW electric motor. No need for a boat licence to take off above the water - from 8 knots - and reach - depending on the options - the limited speed of 20 or 30 knots.
"We could go much faster, but we're not looking for speed, but driving sensations. It is at the crossroads between jet-ski and flyboard, a mixture of sensations, a kind of silent flying carpet, but leaning like a motorcycle, a silent slide between piloting and navigation "explains Franck.
Driving with a foil should not require any physical strength, but rather finesse and a smooth ride. The Lupo is therefore for everyone, young or old, male or female... "We wanted to propose to earthlings to have these sensations usually reserved for experienced sailors or sliding pros, without physical effort" adds Franck. It will even be possible to board in pairs, with a specific version.
It will therefore be necessary to wait until the Nautic to know more about the Lupo since the company that builds it does not want to communicate either on the price or on the design... And do not rely on the images, the model presented should be completely différent?! "It's going to be a surprise, a visual shock." concludes Franck.
