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Description
Boating is not only one of the most pleasurable ways to explore coastlines, lakes, reservoirs, and waterways, but also – frequently - one of the only means to access remote natural landmarks across the globe. However, the environmental costs and sound disturbance of traditional motorboats have led us to seek electrical solutions for aquatic mobility. The problem? Electric boats require charging, which in turn entails power infrastructures that are mostly absent from said natural landmark areas. Furthermore, nature preservation laws have tended to ban traditional explosion engines from lakes, reservoirs, and other waterways throughout the world.
FaroBoats’ Solar Set will bring a fully autonomous, power grid-independent solution to leisure boating, professional aquatic activities and touristic enterprises that require quiet, safe, and environment-friendly watercraft.
By coupling a custom-designed Solar Power Dock with integrated raising winch (Patent Pending) to our new Faro 5 electric boat, we have created the first fully autonomous electric powered boating solution that can operate anytime, anywhere in the world, regardless of any existing human infrastructure – the only possible exception being the arctic circle during arctic night. Besides Eco-Friendly Leisure Boating and Tourism Operations, our project will render possible the continuous, sustained, and sustainable exploration of the most remote waterways throughout the world. Private parties, Environment Protection Agencies, Tourist Enterprises, Remote Populations worldwide and even our Planet could benefit from the FaroBoats Solar Set Solution.
Partnering with IDN happened organically, since it was such a natural alliance. Access through IDN to top level technical know-how has leveraged the engineering development of the Charging Dock, namely at integrated raising winch level, while IDN’s intimate knowledge of the Scandinavian markets is going to facilitate all our sales operations across the Region.
Summary of project results
Boating is one of the most pleasurable ways to explore coastlines, lakes and waterways and at the same time one of the only means to access some remote natural landmarks across the globe. The environmental costs of traditional motorboats have led us to seek electrical solutions for aquatic mobility. The problem? Electric boats require charging, which in turn entails power infrastructure that is often absent from such areas. Also, nature preservation laws have tended to ban traditional explosion engines from lakes and other waterways throughout the world. Our Project has brought an autonomous, power grid-independent solution to leisure boating, professional aquatic activities and touristic enterprises that require quiet, safe, and environment-friendly watercraft.
By coupling a custom-designed Solar Dock with integrated raising chamber to our new Faro 5 electric boat, we have created the first fully autonomous electric-powered boating solution that can operate anywhere in the world, regardless of any human infrastructure. We set about building an energy-efficient, solid and durable boat that would be attractive enough to conquer the international market, along with the Solar Dock. We have now built and tested both the Wood and Fibre versions of the Faro5, used them both with the Solar Dock, and can state they all work seamlessly.
Our Project has made possible the continuous, sustained, and sustainable exploration of the most remote waterways in the world and our Planet will benefit from this Solution.
Interest in our solutions has been widespread, and although further investment will be needed, we are confident in the future prospects of our project. By the end of 2022, we had been distinguished by the Monaco Yacht Club within their Prix d’Élégance organisation, been awarded First Prize on the Gussies Awards in our <8m category, and our Powerdock solution has been published by TIME Magazine as one of the most innovative inventions of 2023.
Our learning curve has been steep, long, and completely worthwhile, since our future looks bright. And we have opened a completely new category by inventing and building the first fully autonomous and self-sustainable boating solution in the world.
Summary of bilateral results
Faroboat''s Project partnered with International Development in Norway (IDN) to leverage their extensive experience in electronic engineering projects for its Solar Charging Dock. IDN provided technological support, acting as at the same time as facilitator in the Norwegian market. They assisted in designing and calculating the cost of the charging dock, offering recommendations for some components, including solar panels.In the commercial aspect, IDN aimed to promote the Eblueboat solution to boat producers and distributors, checking their interest in becoming distributors or partners. They conducted a survey among boat renting companies in Norway to assess user preferences and interests in the Eblueboat solution.However, it is noted that the electric boat market is still in an early stage of development, with few batteries and electricmotors designed for small boats (5 meters). Suppliers are working on its development, but mass adoption is still distant. Consequently, the Norwegian market may not be ready to embrace electric boats at present and for this reason there has been a lack of progress on the commercial front. Despite contacting the list of importers/distributors provided by IDN in February 2022, there has been no response. IDN did not receive direct funding from the Eeagrants Fund and, as of now, there is uncertainty about how IDN can continue to assist Eblueboat. Future engagement may be considered if the electric boat market develops further, and contacts have been established for achieving a dealer in Norway