In the era of global warming and the depletion of the ozone layer, eco-friendly electric vehicles are the new choice for the new world. Being a water adventurer, you may wonder, are there electric jet skis too?
Electric jet skis are happening right now. Many prominent jet ski producers have started producing electric PWCs since electric jet skis are environmentally friendly, safe, and fashionable. A lot of research is going on to improve the overall efficiency of electric jet skis to make them more popular.
This article analyzes the possibilities of an electric jet ski as the future of the personal watercraft industry.
It also discusses the areas where electric jet skis need improvements to become a viable alternative to traditional jet skis.
The latter part of the article includes a list of the pioneering companies that produce electric PWCs.
Are Electric Jet Skis The Future of PWC?
Dependency on a primary fuel can be a vital drawback for jet skis in a future world where fossil fuels will be unavailable. Apart from that, some other aspects also make many people believe that electric jet skis are the future of PWC. I have discussed some of them here.
Zero Carbon Emissions
Regardless of how advanced technology a gasoline-run jet ski adopts, it will emit carbon dioxide into the air.
On the other hand, electric jet skis never emit any carbon or any other greenhouse gas whatsoever.
It is a great advantage of electric PWCs that supports their claim to be the future of PWCs.
With the evident worldwide impacts of climate change in hand, environmentalists are now very vocal about lowering carbon emissions.
As a result, many people now prefer an electric jet ski over a traditional one.
Contains Noise Pollution
A common allegation against typical jet skis is their contribution to noise pollution. The noise ordinary jet skis make while jumping over the water can be very irritating to people around them. It is also not healthy at all.
Electric jet skis of the latest generation make no noise at all. This noise-free feature has made them environmentally friendly.
The fun of riding jet skis multiplies when you are not disturbing anyone around you.
For Safer Rides
Compared to typical jet skis, electric jet skis are much safer for riders. If you are a jet ski rider, you will agree how likely it is to get your watercraft flipped over, or in a worse scenario, sunk in the water.
Besides, while riding with a gasoline tank, you are always at risk of an explosion. The risk of fire also remains while fueling a jet ski.
With the futuristic electric jet skis, you can do all the stunts on the water with less risk of having the vehicle flipped over.
You do not need to worry about a malfunctioning engine, which can put the PWC on fire.
So, from the viewpoint of safety, electric jet skis are light years ahead of traditional jet skis.
Low Maintenance
Any engine, from any motor-run machine, will require extensive care from you. You need to change the engine oil regularly and perform other regular maintenance for a typical jet ski.
Besides, an ordinary jet ski needs a lot of care and attention before and after every winter.
If you have an electric jet ski, you do not need to winterize it at all. Since it does not have an exhaust or a cooling system, you never have to check those before and after every ride.
Fashionable and Trendy
Electric jet skis come with stunning looks and attractive designs. If you intend to stand out from the crowd, they can help you quite well.
Electric jet skis will surely upgrade your status among your friends and acquaintances.
Typical jet skis are also good-looking. But compared to electric jet skis, they look a bit outdated. Besides, being environmentally friendly is a new trend that only an electric watercraft can ensure.
What Are The Downsides Of Electric Jet Skis?
Despite being the recent trend in jet skiing, electric power crafts still have a long way to go before you can call them perfect. They still lack the high performance, variety of options, and durability that a typical jet ski can offer.
Performance
One of the main reasons for the overwhelming popularity of jet skis is their outstanding power performance as a water ride. Most of the jet skis on the market come with 300 horsepower.
The overall technology of electric jet skis has yet to reach that level where they can compete with ordinary jet skis so far as speed is concerned.
A less-speedy jet ski can disappoint hard-core water riders. Because without extreme power, they would not be able to perform all the riding stunts.
Recharging Time
Electric jet skis take a lot more time to get ready to get into the water. When riding an e-jet ski, you must plan a ride much earlier than you would on a traditional jet ski as the vehicle should be recharged for a long time.
With the typical jet ski, you can schedule a water ride any time you wish, just by refueling the watercraft within minutes. It is a convenience that many seasoned jet skiers will not be willing to compromise on.
Options & Price
A lot more companies have now started producing electric jet skis. Still, there are limited options for them on the market. On the other hand, typical jet skis have many options for design and efficiency.
The price of an electric jet ski is much higher than that of a traditional jet ski. The average cost of a typical jet ski is $12,000 in the USA. However, the price of electric jet skis ranges between $24,000 and $40,000.
Some High-Performing Electric Jet Skis On the Market
Here is a list of the companies that produce the most popular electric jet skis on the market. They have got the attention of jet ski enthusiasts with their stunning looks.
The Hungarian brand Narke is the first producer to hit the market with an electric jet ski. The first model of their electric watercraft was the Narke GT45.
The 827-lbs PWC comes with 60 horsepower. The top speed of the e-jet ski is about 30 knots. It has a 24-kilowatt lithium-ion battery pack. The new model of Narke e-jet ski is GT95, which has 127 horsepower and a top speed of 37 knots.
Taiga is the second company in the world to sell electronic PWCs. The Canadian company started selling its electric jet ski, Orca, in 2020. It has 180 horsepower and can have a top speed of 56 knots.
There are three models of e-PWC from the company available on the market. The heaviest electric jet ski model from the company is the Performance, weighing 588 lbs. It is one of the best-selling e-PWCs in the USA.
Nikola Motor is the pioneer in producing electric trucks. It started marketing electric watercraft in 2019. The model of the company’s e-jet ski is called Nikola Waves.
Nikola Waves have the great feature of instant torque to power up the water vehicle in a few seconds. It replicates the ergonomics of a sports bike.
Yamaha has entered the e-PWC market with a big plan. They have already produced electronic jet skis with 268 horsepower, which is a milestone in the industry.
Some popular electric jet ski models by Yamaha include the VX Deluxe, SuperJet, VX Cruiser, EX Sport, etc. Competitive performance and great appearance have made them popular among jet skiers.
Final Thoughts on Electric Jet Skis
The safety features of the new generation of electric jet skis may entice a new group of people who have previously avoided jet skiing for safety reasons.
Already, there are electric jet skis on the market to compete with traditional jet skis in many aspects.
However, the performance of electric PWCs still needs to be exceeded to make them the ultimate choice for all jet skiers.