Swedish e-boat firm X Shore launches first commercial vessel
The Swedish technology company and electric boatbuilder X Shore has launched the X Shore Pro, its third model and the first dedicated to the professional sector.
X Shore says the X Shore Pro has been designed for companies and organisations operating across an array of maritime professions, including commercial traffic, shuttle services, diving, coast guards.
One of the first X Shore Pro vessels to be sold will be used for school transportation in the Swedish archipelago, revolutionising the daily commute while lowering emissions across the board.
The electric boat market is rocketing in Europe, according to a recent study conducted by Boats Group. The electrification of boating can support climate change mitigation and a decarbonised global economy.
Earlier this year, X Shore raised around 300 million SEK (£23m) during a round of fundraising. The company is projected to reach EBITDA profitability in 2024.
X Shore says the new Pro model is designed to match — and preempt — restrictions on traditional ICE (internal combustion engine) vessels that have been introduced globally as part of climate-minded policy.
Several lakes in US states such as Minnesota and Washington now prohibit combustion engines.
Closer to X Shore’s Nordic roots, Norway has adopted a resolution to halt emissions from cruise ships and ferries in the Norwegian World Heritage-recognised fjords no later than 2026. Elsewhere in Europe, Amsterdam is enacting a ban on commercial boats with diesel engines operating on the city’s canals by 2025 and electric boats in Venice are exempt from a new law introduced to help restrict boat traffic and air pollution on its crowded canals.
The Parliament of the Balearics has proposed a ban on the rental of non-electric yachts in Mallorca and its surrounding islands by 2030. ICE vessels have been banned from many lakes in Austria and certain lakes in Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Denmark and several fisheries in the UK.
“The boating and shipping industries must be decarbonised and central to this mission is bringing to market viable and scalable alternatives to fossil fuel-powered vessels,” says X Shore CEO Jenny Keisu. “The X Shore Pro is the natural evolution of our offering.
“The X Shore Pro shows that electric boats can serve industry and deliver change at-scale and reach the lives of more people. We must not expect regular citizens to single handedly drive the major net zero transition we need to mitigate climate change — this change must be driven by powerful figures such as companies, cities, and politicians.”
The X Shore Pro is the manufacturer’s third model, following the flagship Eelex 8000 (launched 2020) and X Shore 1 (launched 2022).
The Pro is built on X Shore’s tried and tested 8-metre platform that has been used for several years. Built with X Shore’s latest smart technology, sustainable methods, and clean Scandinavian design, the X Shore Pro will be developed and manufactured at X Shore Industries 1 in Nyköping, Sweden, and will be available in two configurations: Open and Cabin. The boats are built to order, according to customer requirements.
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