Porsche is finding new ways to use its advanced EV battery architecture. The German automaker has partnered with Frauscher, a nearly 100-year-old Austrian boat maker known for its electric watercraft, to create the Frauscher x Porsche 850 Fantom Air.
"Porsche has adapted and further developed its drive technology designed for road vehicles for use on the water," the company says. "Our goal is to inspire our customers and make their dreams come true."
Pre-orders for the $593K vessel are open now at www.frauscherxporsche.com, but good luck snagging one: So far the "initial plan is for an exclusive first edition 25 units," Porsche says, to be delivered in 2024.
Putting a sportscar inside a sports boat turns out to be a pretty powerful combination. From behind the "original sports steering wheel from Porsche," the driver can crank up the speed to 53mph and 536hp, which is slightly more power than the base Rivian R1T electric pickup's 533hp and the Porsche Taycan 4S’s 522hp.
The 28.4-foot (8.67-meter) cruiser runs on a 100kWh battery, which is just as big or bigger than most EV sedans and SUVs on the road today. Porsche built it with components of the same Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture behind the upcoming 2024 Porsche Macan electric SUV. That includes the same permanently excited synchronous electric motor (PSM) as the Macan EV as well.
The Frauscher x Porsche 850 Fantom Air also promises faster acceleration than gas-powered boats, Frauscher says, although the final 0-60 specs are yet to be announced: "But one thing is certain; you can expect one of the best-performing electric boats on the market."
Like Porsche cars, the boat will have multiple driving modes: Docking, Range, Sport, and Sport Plus. Up to nine passengers will enjoy a rear swimming platform and "generous lounge area with two comfortable sunbathing pads." Multiple upholstered benches up front create a separate relaxation area as well.
The battery lasts two to three hours, or one hour at top speed. Back at the dock, the battery charges back up to 80% in 30 minutes, thanks to an advanced 800-volt architecture. That's on the low end for most electric cars today.
It's not the first time Porsche has put its technology inside a boat. "In 1959, the company presented the type 729 boat engine to the public," Porsche says. "It was based on the four-cylinder boxer engine of the Porsche 356, with a restricted output of 52 PS."
Audi also recently explored using its EV technology in watersports. In 2018, it debuted an electric foil, dubbed the e-Tron foil after its e-Tron EV lineup. It's essentially a rudder that elevates surfboards and propels them across the water.