Frauscher Shipyard and Porsche have unveiled the first production model of the 850 Fantom Air or eFantom, a jointly developed electric sports boat. Designed with the drive technology of the all-electric Porsche Macan, which will hit the market in early 2024, the new e-boat was recently presented to media and other stakeholders for test drives on Lake Garda in Italy.

“This boat is a real milestone in the industry,” said Stefan Frauscher, Managing Director of Frauscher Shipyard. “The electric version of the Fantom Air is better than the version with an internal combustion engine in all driving characteristics, such as top speed, acceleration, and handling—and at the same time locally emission-free.”

The Frauscher x Porsche 850 Fantom Air is based on the Frauscher 858 Fantom Air day cruiser. It retains its 8.67 m (28.4 ft) long and 2.49 m (8.2 ft) wide hull, the design of which is almost unchanged on the outside and offers space for up to nine passengers.

“The eFantom offers everything that Frauscher and Porsche products have always promised: outstanding performance and luxurious experiences, the highest quality and exclusive, timeless design,” said Detlev von Platen, member of the Board of Management for Sales and Marketing at Porsche AG.

Working with Frauscher, Porsche adapted and further developed its drive technology designed for road vehicles for use on the water. The 850 Fantom Air e-boat uses components from Macan’s Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture. This includes a permanently excited synchronous electric motor (PSM), with a limited peak power of 400 kW for use in the eFantom, and the associated power electronics. A shaft transmits the power from the rear-mounted electric motor to the marine Z-drive.

The e-boat’s lithium-ion battery with a gross capacity of 100 kW·h is also adapted from the Macan and is located under the lounge area in the stern of the vessel. For the suspension in the support frame, the experts at Porsche opted for wire rope mounts, which are particularly good at absorbing the shocks that inevitably occur while driving fast and in waves. Frauscher says the eFantom offers a comfortable ride over the water despite its sporty design.

Thanks to the 800-V technology from Porsche, the e-boat’s battery can be charged with over 250 kW of DC at DC fast-charging stations, going from a 10% to 80% state of charge in under 30 min. AC charging at conventional household and high-voltage sockets is also possible; according to experts from both companies, that will be the most common use case, as the infrastructure is currently available in most ports. An 11-kW AC charger on board the e-boat is standard.

Much like Porsche’s on-road vehicles, pre-programmed driving modes can alter drive characteristics for the eFantom. Docking, Range, Sport, and Sport Plus modes change the e-boat’s throttle response curve while also featuring different speed limits. For example, in Docking mode for harbor maneuvers, the speed is limited to 8 kt (15 km/h).

At the 850 Fantom Air’s optimum cruising speed of 41 km/h (22 kt), a battery charge can last for about 1 h or about 45 km (28 mi), according to Frauscher. When driving at slower speeds, the company says that a range of more than 100 km (62 mi) is possible. The top speed is reached in Sport Plus mode and is capped at 85 km/h (46 kt). Typical customer trips with a mix of slow and high-speed travel allow a journey time of 2 to 3 h, depending on the driving profile.

In addition to the powertrain, Porsche had a hand in some aspects of the eFantom’s design.

Studio F. A. Porsche was responsible for the design of the helm stand, which features a high-gloss black instrument panel behind a frameless tinted acrylic glass windscreen, and side ends designed as winglets—a stylistic nod to the 911—that also provides practical grab handles. Five analog gauges on the upper level of the instrument panel underline the sports car look and provide an overview of the most important data. In another Porsche tradition, the start button is to the left of the wheel.

The Porsche-derived steering wheel was designed with materials suited to the nautical environment is also a sign of the automaker’s influence on the new e-boat. The two front seats, designed by the Studio F. A. Porsche team, feature raised backrests, integrated headrests, and an embroidered crest, with a look inspired by sports seats in Porsche vehicles.

The seats are covered with durable artificial leather. The stern swimming platform leads to a lounge area with two sunbathing pads. A central aisle connects the back end of the boat with the free-standing helm and the cockpit.

As with Porsche road models, individuality is said to be very much in demand for boats. The vessel’s upholstery can be ordered in any color Porsche offers for its road vehicles, as can the hull and deck.

The eFantom is equipped with two folding Bimini tops, a high-end audio system with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, a 12-in multi-information display, an integrated echo sounder and chart plotter, bow thruster, an electric stainless-steel anchor and chain, LED ambient lighting, LED underwater lighting, and a cooling compartment.

The boat will be built in the Frauscher Shipyard in Ohlsdorf, Austria, with the boat builder handling the sales logistics and the aftersales management.

The partners will celebrate the official world premiere of the 850 Fantom Air at the Boot Düsseldorf trade fair in January. They initially plan to offer their first customers an exclusive first edition of 25 units, which can be ordered from Frauscher starting at €561,700 net for delivery in 2024. Orders can be placed at the Frauscher x Porsche website.