UrbanLink Buys 27 Electric Seagliders
Image Credit: Regent Craft.
Grab your life vests and your Dramamine - the future of coastal commuting just got a whole lot more electrifying! UrbanLink, a South Florida-based company that seems hell-bent on making us all forget about fossil fuels, has just splashed out on a fleet of 27 electric seagliders from Regent Craft. These guys are really trying to turn Miami into a real-life scene from a sci-fi movie.
Unlike the clunky ferries we are used to, these Viceroy seagliders are sleek, futuristic beasts that barely skim across the water (just a few feet above it) at a hair-raising 180 mph. And with a range of 180 miles on a single charge, they'll whisk you from Miami to the Bahamas before your mojito has a chance to melt.
UrbanLink is on a mission to revolutionize urban transportation with a focus on zero-emission solutions. They're already working on a network of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, and now they're adding these electric seagliders to the mix.
Image Credit: Regent Craft.
The Viceroy seagliders, each capable of carrying 12 passengers and two crew members, are designed to operate in coastal hubs, taking advantage of existing docks and EV charging infrastructure. No need to build fancy new airports or helipads - these bad boys can dock right next to your favorite seafood shack.
While electric "sea gliders" sound great, are they really practical? Well, according to UrbanLink's founder and chairman, Ed Wegel, the answer is a resounding yes. He sees these low-flying airplanes as the perfect way to connect coastal cities and islands, providing a fast, efficient, and eco-friendly alternative to traditional ferries and airplanes.
"By embracing these innovative, zero-emission modes of transportation - whether by sea or air - we're not only shaping the future of travel but also taking meaningful steps toward a cleaner, more sustainable environment for generations to come," Wegel says. And honestly - who am I to argue with that?
Regent Craft, the brains behind these electric seagliders, is clearly onto something. They've already racked up orders for over 600 of these futuristic vessels, valued at a cool $9 billion. That's a lot of people ready to ditch their gas-guzzling contraptions and hop on the electric wave.
Of course, there's still a bit of a wait before we can all experience the thrill of gliding across the water at breakneck speeds. UrbanLink doesn't expect to put these winged ferries into operation until 2027. But good things come to those who wait, apparently.
So, while we patiently wait, I'll be keeping a close eye on UrbanLink and Regent Craft. They're clearly pushing the boundaries of what's possible in electric transportation, and I can't wait to see what they come up with next.
For now, let's just appreciate the fact that the future of coastal travel is looking brighter than ever. And remember, folks, the next time you're stuck in traffic on the I-95, just imagine yourself soaring above the waves in one of these electric seagliders. It might just make the commute a little bit more bearable.
