Frauscher and Porsche team up for the all-electric 850 Fantom Air boat

As electric vehicles become more widely available, automotive brands are expanding their focus to include new form of transport. Polestar and Candela already announced their partnership back in May. And so does Porsche now with their latest collaboration with Frauscher, known for their premium, electric sleek sport boats. Their first production model – the 850 Fantom Air combines the cutting-edge drive technology of the forthcoming all-electric Porsche Macan, promising an incredible experience on the water. Recently, it successfully underwent its initial test drives on the Lake Garda.

Performance and charging

Porsche has adapted and further developed its drive technology designed for road vehicles to use on water with the Frauscher x Porsche 850 Fantom Air. This boat features a state-of-the-art permanently excited synchronous electric motor (PSM) limited to 400 kW, power electronics, shaft transmission and a 100 kWh lithium ion battery from the Porsche Macan. The 850 Fantom Air glides comfortably over the water with four pre-programmed driving modes: Docking, Range, Sport and Sport Plus. Each mode changes the characteristic curve of throttle response and includes different speed limits, such as 8 knots (15 km/h) in Docking mode for harbour driving.

The ideal cruising speed for the 850 Fantom Air is 41 km/h (22 kn), enabling a battery charge to cover approximately 1 hour or 45 kilometres of cruising distance. By driving at hull speed, the range extends beyond 100 kilometers. The top speed achievable is 85 km/h (46 kn) with Sport Plus mode engaged. The total journey time varies between 2 to 3 hours for typical customer trips, depending on the driving profile.

Porsche's 800-volt tech enables the electric boat to charge at over 250 kW DC fast-charging stations, with battery filling from 10% to 80% in under 30 minutes. AC charging is the most common use case due to availability in ports, and an 11-kW AC charger comes standard.

Design

Porsche's electric sports boat is designed to be powerful, stylish and sporty. The helmstand features a high-gloss black instrument panel behind a frameless tinted acrylic glass windscreen. Five analogue gauges on the upper level of the instrument panel add to the car look. On board is a unique Porsche steering wheel with an artificial-leather-clad rim made to be resistant to salt water. The two front seats are inspired by Porsche's sports seats in road vehicles, with plenty of lateral support, integrated headrests and an embroidered crest.

The Frauscher x Porsche 850 Fantom Air is based on the 858 Fantom Air day cruiser and features a spacious hull, lounge area with two sunbathing pads and seating for nine passengers. Customers can choose from a variety of colors for upholstery, hull and deck. The 850 Fantom Air boat comes standard with 2 folding bimini tops, high-end audio system, 12-inch multi-information display with echo sounder and chart plotter, bow thruster, electric stainless steel anchor with stainless steel chain, LED ambient lighting and LED underwater lighting.

The Frauscher x Porsche 850 Fantom Air set to make its debut at "boot" trade fair in January 2024. 25 exclusive units available for order from Frauscher starting at €561.700 EUR. The electric boat will be build in the Frauscher Shipyard in Ohlsdorf, Austria.

Pictures: Porsche