Riva launches its first electric motor yacht, the El-Iseo
Riva's first battery-powered luxury boat will also rank as its smallestGlobal luxury motor yacht brand Ferretti has taken the plunge into battery-fuelled boats, launching the Riva El-Iseo dayboat as its first fully electric model.
The Riva El-Iseo is based on the 8.2-metre Iseo Open, the smallest model in the luxury motor yacht maker’s stable.
At its heart is a compact 800-volt Parker Hannifin GVM310 liquid-cooled permanent magnet electric motor designed to power battery-powered commercial vehicles such as buses and excavators, and producing up to 540hp of peak power but 300hp of continuous power.
However, the highlight of this electric motor is its pushing power, delivering up to 1430Nm of peak torque from almost zero revs. That means plenty of push to get a boat up on the plane.
Despite the alternative technology, the El-Iseo remains a Riva at heart, featuring high-end mahogany highlights and stainless steel detailing.
Providing the power is a 150kWh lithium-ion battery pack built by Podium Advanced Technologies. According to its maker, the battery’s architecture ensures reliability and safety, key prerogatives during navigation.
The batteries are also completely watertight, liquid-cooled, thermally insulated and have a fire-resistant coating.
Race-bred technology
Podium – which also specialises in making batteries for Formula E race cars – said the battery was powerful enough to push the Riva El-Iseo to a top speed of 40 knots, with lower speeds delivering a battery life of around 10 hours before needing a top-up via the mothership or a marina-based fast charger.
By way of comparison, the fibreglass Iseo Open is powered by a single 300hp Volvo Penta D4 inboard engine. It will cruise at 35 knots for a range of around 250 nautical miles, with a top speed the same as the electric version.
The conventionally powered boat also weighs 2940kg unladen, with no details released on the displacement of the electric version. In road vehicles, the extra weight of batteries and electric motors means an EV can weigh around 20 percent more than its petrol or diesel equivalent.
According to Riva, the Iseo Open is the perfect lake boat or tender for a motor yacht. It’s expected the El-Iseo will attract a similar type of owner.
Tags
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
