Discover the story behind new brand AX/E – a partnership between vessel developer Axopar and electric motor specialist Evoy.
The 2024 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show had more than its share of big announcements. Among the most interesting for the electrification movement was one about Evoy and Axopar’s new electric vessel brand, AX/E, powered by Evoy’s motor technology.
The launch of AX/E saw the unveiling of two electric boats: the AX/E 22 and AX/E 25, powered by Evoy’s Breeze and Storm motors, respectively. E&H Marine caught up with Antti Lipsanen, AX/E product manager, and Marte Rostrup-Hofset, COO of Evoy, to find out more about this new brand, where it sits in the Axopar line-up, why Evoy propulsion was the ideal fit for these vessels, and what might be in store for the coming years.
Can you give us a bit of background on the design brief for the AX/E 22 and AX/E 25? What do they offer customers that didn’t previously exist in the Axopar line-up?
The full line-up currently consists of the entry-level 22ft and 25ft, followed by the new 29ft, the 37ft and our flagship 45ft hull sizes. The 22ft and 25ft hull platforms offered a perfect opportunity to add an electric option.
Typically, with smaller hulls, you would veer more toward coastal as opposed to offshore cruising, and the AX/E 22 and AX/E 25 versions were a perfect starting point for electrification, each with its multistorage unit to neatly house the electrical components, and light displacement to maximize battery capacity.
In terms of the transition to electric, the aim for the design was to compromise as little as possible and prove that electric boating doesn’t have to be slow-speed cruising.
Axopar customers are already used to high performance with good handling and a high level of functionality for watersports, fishing and so forth, and we wanted to bring all that to fruition in the electric boating world.
How much of the vessels’ design is based on previous, proven modular expertise and how much is unique to the new craft?
The AX/E 22 and 25 are based on Axopar’s proven, twin-step, deep-V hull, a multi-award-winning design that make these real ‘driver’s boats’ with all the fun and excitement of a RIB but with a lot more interior volume and protection from the elements.
Modularity is expressed in the way you can specify the layout in the rear sections, which includes either an aft sofa, a U-sofa arrangement or a multistorage compartment for carrying plenty of watersports-related gear.
You can choose either a full open boat design or the cross-top version for extra overhead protection against the weather. The 25 is also equipped with a cabin with two berths and the 22 houses a toilet in the console compartment.
Unique, of course, is the electric propulsion system, with very low noise especially at dock. As is also well known, electrical motors are much easier to maintain, with far fewer moving parts, which offers a new perspective to the user with less hassle when preparing the boat for the season. The Evoy electric system enables over-the-air diagnostics, and more features are available on the Evoy app.
Tell us about the intended characteristics of the vessels. How are they designed to be used?
The 22 and 25 are designed mainly as day-cruising boats, but the 25 has overnight possibilities as well. The AX/E series hosts a new upholstery package to maximize day cruising and there is a lot of lounging space. The waterski frame allows for watersports activities, and with a fridge on board it’s a great way to spend time at anchor.
Axopar makes a point of always having a large options list for all of its boats, and day head (flushing toilet with septic tank) and sink can always be added for convenience if required. This, along with other comfort-oriented options, makes use as convenient and pleasurable as possible.
Of course, a big aspect is the available range, and we wanted to keep speed, handling and exhilaration high on the agenda, which requires even more battery capacity. Not forgetting that at 27kts planing speed, consumption is optimal and enables a 25 nautical mile [46km] trip.
The AX/E 25, for example, has an 800V battery system for extremely fast charging, which means that within 30 minutes you can fully charge the boat and be back out doing the things you love.
Understandably, the need to charge an electric boat places pressure on the infrastructure development, but just as the charging infrastructure for cars is developing, it will gradually develop for boats as well. Bringing charging points closer to the water will benefit harbors, waterside restaurants and anyone wanting to make a business as a chargepoint operator.
What are the characteristics of electric propulsion that suit these craft?
Every Axopar hull is sports-oriented with a hydrodynamic design that can easily handle fast cruising and maximum hull speeds. So the performance potential and instant acceleration and torque from a continuous 300hp-equivalent Evoy electric motor and 600hp peak power go hand in hand with Axopar’s design ethos.
The extremely efficient hull at planing speeds enables us to extend the range and usability of the boat. We have made great efforts to combine elements including functionality, usability, speed and handling in the same boat to create a perfect harmony.
Why was Evoy the right motor partner for these vessels?
Evoy is a pioneer in high-output electric outboard motors and has been a forerunner in helping OEMs and retrofit customers make the shift to sustainable boating. And the company is not just committed to the leisure sector; Evoy’s commercial marine interests are just as strong, with motors fitted to commercial workboats in the fish-farming and aquaculture industries, harbor patrol law enforcement, sustainable tourism, port control and various other commercial applications.
What all this means is there is a lot of ‘use-case’ experience and ‘use data’, which helps to continuously improve the technicalities and optimize each system’s performance and reliability even further.
What makes the Evoy Storm and Breeze motors the best fit for these applications?
The performance of these engines is ahead of the trend in electric boating. Evoy was one of the first to provide a high-power-output electric engine that fits Axopar’s ethos perfectly – to provide an easy solution to replacing an internal combustion engine with electric. Nothing too scary or too complex – the same look as a traditional 22ft or 25ft boat, just with less noise and fumes.
With 300hp output, the Evoy Storm can rightly claim to be the world’s fastest series production electric outboard motor. With 120+ hp equivalent power, the Evoy Breeze is the perfect companion for the AX/E 22. With 800V and 400V respectively on an electric boat, they are complemented by the charging networks being created around the world by different chargepoint operators – and Axopar’s collaboration with Kempower to provide high-power superchargers for customers’ use.
Over-the-air updates via engineers at Evoy’s head office enable remote servicing and diagnostics to take place for all types of Evoy motors – an important consideration, bearing in mind that electric technology is not necessarily something that every boatyard can deal with easily.
How do their unique profiles of acceleration, torque and so on suit the AX/E 22 and 25?
The 22 and 25 are performance boats in their own right, and the electric instant power response complements our design philosophy immensely. These are boats in which you can feel the performance, and the response of these engines suits the profile of each boat to a tee.
How close was the relationship between Evoy and Axopar during development of the vessels?
The collaboration started in 2021 and both sides quickly identified the potential of the Axopar 25 as a prototype platform for a proof of concept of Evoy’s new 300hp Storm engine. Evoy and Axopar’s boating cultures align well together, with each company pushing and driving the other forward to make the best possible electric experience on the water for boaters new or old. It’s all about bringing the excitement without the hassle.
All Axopar 22ft and 25ft models are made to be electric but can be delivered with gasoline outboards so that both options still exist. Similarly, boats with gasoline outboards can be converted back to electric if required.
What’s the big-picture goal of the new AX/E line?
To bring electric boating to the next level, by breaking the barrier of slow-speed cruising and creating a boat with the same functionalities that you would have on a traditional version. And to prove how easy the transition to electric boating can be.
We want to push the boundaries and encourage other boat manufacturers to bring more people to the water through electrifying boats, and push harbors and shoreside businesses to facilitate even more charging networks for boats. This will be a game-changer for boat clubs and boat rental businesses.
Who knows what the future will bring, with constant development of lighter batteries, more capacity, more power and faster charging speeds.
Why have a sub-brand under the larger Axopar umbrella, rather than just adding a couple of new electric variants?
The sub-brand helps us differentiate from our traditional boats, showcasing them and making them recognizable in the water.
It’s the same situation with cars two decades ago: the more people started seeing electric cars being used, the more trust they gained. AX/E is a game-changer, just as the original Axopar was for the traditional boating market in 2014. We want these boats to stand out and be recognized anywhere by changing the culture and creating trust in the electric market everywhere.
The AX/Es are special boats. They are forerunners in high-performance boating, retaining the handling, speed and style typical of the Axopar brand.
What role does AX/E play in Axopar’s larger mission to improve sustainability?
The AX/E series is the first to truly revolutionize how people think of electric boating and boating in general.
As Evoy says, “Everything that can electrify will electrify.” At this moment in time, it is the most sustainable method of boating. We are excited to pave the way and move the industry forward together with other electric boat companies. Making it as easy, adventurous and cool as possible will change the market perception, and it’s already beginning to change.
Do you have plans for further AX/E craft? Will they be scaled based on these designs or something new?
The AX/E 22 and 25 were launched in 2024. Our goal is to get as many boats as possible in the water to make the cultural shift and get consumers to understand the concept behind a high-powered boat with rapid charging.
Together with Evoy, we are continuing to develop more functions, features and performance, to create an electric boat that everyone can feel comfortable using.
Once the market is ready, of course – this is always in our mind. We believe it will all happen very fast.
And do you plan to work with Evoy on future projects too?
Yes, and to such an extent that, in June 2023, Axopar made a significant injection of capital into Evoy by way of a 5% ownership stake in the company, signifying our serious commitment and intent to work together with Evoy in bringing sustainability and electrification to the future of boating.
The investment was made along with confirmed orders of over €1m [US$1.05m] for motors straight away. At the same time, it gave Evoy access to a selected number of Axopar dealers who wanted to add an electric option to their existing range.
Where in the world are the new vessels being built?
At Axopar’s various OEM subsidiary partner companies in Poland, where all other Axopar and Brabus Shadow models are made.
Is everything on track for delivery in early 2025?
Yes. Following the global launch of our AX/E electric brand at the Cannes boat show in September 2024, everything is on track and the first boats will be delivered during this first year to the European market.
In addition, we recently attended the world’s largest in-water boat show, the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in the USA, where the AX/E 25 Electric was proudly on display. Such was the level of interest that Fox Business News made a point of live-streaming a two-minute interview with Leif Stavøstrand, Evoy’s CEO, directly from our boat-show booth.
This article was originally published in the January 2024 issue of Electric and Hybrid Marine Technology. To view the magazine in full, click here.
