X Shore, the Swedish pioneer of fully electric and connected boats, today launched the X Shore 1 Bowrider, its latest model intended to set a new standard in sustainable boating, combining “robust performance, seamless technology, and functional design.” The Bowrider version of the X Shore 1 is tailored for those who want more “recreation, social gatherings, or watersports.”

With increasing global regulations against fossil-fuel boats, the new Bowrider helps customers continue to access iconic waterways like Italy’s Lake Como and Amsterdam’s canals, and its silent operation preserves “marine serenity while zero-emission propulsion keeps the environment clean.”

“Our mission is to make boating one with nature by advancing sustainable performance, seamless technology, and functional design,” said René Hansen, X Shore CEO. “The Bowrider meets the growing demand for recreation, high performance, and sustainability, setting new standards in electric boating.”

Design highlights include an open transom and swim platform for easy water access. An adjustable deck space can accommodate sunbathing and social gatherings. Central passage and flexible seating enable easy movement, with more under-seat storage for gear and supplies. Retractable sun awnings give relief from direct sunlight.

Key specs include a length of 6.5 m (21 ft). A 63-kW·h battery enables a typical range of about 50 nmi (93 km), but X Shore notes that the number will vary depending on conditions at sea, speed, and how much load is onboard. Top speed is 30 kt (56 km/h).

The new boat integrates Garmin’s advanced marine technology including a 19-in display and real-time data on navigation, depth, and temperature. With connectivity between the X Shore app and Garmin smartwatch, users can monitor and control their boats remotely.

The Bowrider hull is produced using precision prepreg techniques from advanced materials like carbon fiber at X Shore’s cutting-edge facility in Nyköping, Sweden, which has the capacity to produce almost 2000 boats per year. X Shore furthers its commitment to eco-friendly innovation by replacing traditional teak with sustainable cork.

The starting price is estimated at €129,000/$139,000 but excludes freight, duty, and handling fees. Final prices will be confirmed to customers at transaction time.

 

A good foundation

The company built its first prototype in 2018 and has become well known for its flagship Eelex 8000 launched in 2020 and X Shore 1 launched in 2022. The latter was a real electric boat pioneer, Hansen told Futurride, in an exclusive interview on the Bowrider and other X Shore developments.

“We came up with the first electric boat at price parity with a combustion boat, a prepreg boat, with high performance, sleek design, functional and seamless technology,” said Hansen.

The boating world took notice, with the X Shore 1 achieving a “hat trick” by securing three prestigious awards for both its performance and design. It was named the European Powerboat of the Year, Best of Boat Award 2023 in the category specifically for electric boats, and the Gold prize for Excellent Product Design in the Aviation, Maritime, and Railway category at the German Design Award 2023.

With the initial X Shore 1 with a cabin, Hansen said the team learned a lot including the need for variants.

“Just like Tesla, we learn a lot about the product through the telemetry,” he said. “But I also love to be with the customers to hear what else” they need.

In the warmer parts of Europe and North America, he says that over 60% of purchases are for bowriders. X Shore customers wanted that configuration’s greater outdoor space for social time and hanging out. So, the company followed up the Cabin model by developing the Bowrider version to “convert more people to electric,” he said. “It was a no-brainer.”

 

Engineering continuous improvements

Regardless of variant, Hansen says that the company is driven to continuously improve all aspects of its products. Updates to existing products include a reduction in drivetrain vibration, increases in storage for odds and ends, and a better charging experience.

“We literally dissect the whole boat and put it back together and remove parts that shouldn’t be there, which means that it will be lighter and perform better,” he said.

World-class partners like Bosch Engineering, Brusa Technology, and Garmin have helped in the effort. He points out that companies like Bosch and Brusa are pushing electrical drivetrain not only for the boating industry, but also in the trucking and car industry, and that technology transfer is benefitting X Shore. It is similar with Garmin, which aids the e-boat maker in technology integration.

“It is [that] R&D knowledge and development that converts into building a better product,” he said. “We write the brief, and then we work with the different suppliers to make sure that we can produce the best possible product for the customer at the price they’re willing to [pay].”

Hansen said that X Shore also differentiates with more manufacturing discipline, producing boats differently than “everyone else” with more precise assembly-line-like prepreg production.

“Most boat companies cannot tell you of the weight between 10% because of the type of hulls they’re using,” he explained. “Our boats weigh exactly the same.”

He says X Shore’s philosophy is closer to the trucking industry and calls his company’s facility in Nyköping more of a factory than a shipyard.

The focus on a holistic approach to continuous improvement and on strong partnerships is paying dividends.

“We had a customer that tried the X Shore 1 cabin prototype last year, and then they tried the newest one this year,” said Hansen, paraphrasing their words. “I don’t even recognize the product—and in a good way. You have exponentially improved the overall feeling of quality, precision, of everything in this boat that we can recognize.”

He believes another competitive advantage is that the X Shore team is “so incredibly dedicated” to making sure that the customer feedback but also the cutting-edge “craft” and R&D goes into the company’s boat development. Having a company co-founder like Konrad Bergström, who “has a longest-standing experience with producing electrical boats and electrical drivetrains, puts us in a very unique position,” he added.

 

Next up: PRO 2.0

Last year, following the news of X Shore 1 upgrades via a strengthened Bosch Engineering collaboration, X Shore launched its third electric model and its first dedicated to the maritime professional sector.

The PRO model is based on the X Shore’s 8-m platform and aimed at accelerating the net-zero transition. It is designed for organizations operating across an array of maritime professions including commercial traffic, shuttle services, diving, and coast guards, with one of the first sold for school transportation in the Swedish archipelago.

Two basic configurations—Open and Cabin—will be built to order according to customer requirements. Some preliminary specs were shared for Cabin and Open PRO models. They share an 8-m (26.2-ft) length, 2.6-m (8.5-ft) beam, and 0.85-m (2.7-ft) depth—and a 170-kW electrical motor.

Compared to the Eelex, the PRO series has more technical options based on client needs, which can include autopilot, a heated windshield, a single joystick for double thruster control, a lock-and-hold function to make the boat still in the water for single-hand docking, and cabin climate control.

The philosophy of continuous improvement also applies here. Due next year, Hansen revealed that PRO 2.0 will see a significant weight reduction from nearly 3 tons to closer to 2 tons.

Stay tuned.