X Shore Pro: Harnessing Electric Dreams on the High Seas
Ahoy, landlubbers! It's your favorite automotive, aero, and maritime journalist here – and guess what? We’re now diving into the world of boats! Yes, I've traded asphalt for waves today. But don't panic, these boats don't run on fossil fuel. They’re electric! And before you ask, no, you can't plug your phone into them.
Remember when we thought electric vehicles were mere toys for the wealthy elite? Back when I was riding my gas-guzzling chopper and sipping on petrol (not advisable), the EV realm seemed so... distant. Well, move over Tesla and your four-wheel counterparts; there's a new contender splashing into the scene: the X Shore Pro. A snazzy electric boat for the pros. And it's Swedish, so you can bet it’s as reliable as your favorite flat-pack furniture.
So, let’s get into the nitty-gritty details. This all-new marine marvel stands proudly on X Shore's time-tested 26.2-foot platform, and boy, is she a looker! She’s available in two models: the Open 8000 and Cabin 8000. Here's where I'd make a joke about the "open relationship" between the two, but I’ll leave that to your imagination. The Open stands tall at 9.2 ft, while her cabin-dwelling sister measures 9.5 ft. For our metrically-challenged friends, that’s almost as tall as Shaq on tiptoes!
X Shore is a bit tight-lipped about her inner workings, like a magician with a particularly dazzling trick. What we do know is that the boat sports a dual-battery setup with a whopping 126 kilowatt-hours of juice, brewed by the Austrians at Kreisel. It's rumoured that this sassy sea vessel might be flaunting a 170 kW (228 hp) electric motor. My old motorcycle is shaking in its boots, I tell ya!
But here’s the catch - the range is a bit, shall we say, fluid? At low speeds, you could sail around for a full 100 nautical miles, which sounds fabulous for a lazy Sunday. But if you have a need for speed, beware! Go cruising, and you could find yourself at a 10 percent battery in just 20 nautical miles. That’ll drop you into what's hilariously called "limp mode," capping your speed at a whopping 6 knots. Yes, just when you thought the oceans were the last escape from the range anxiety of electric cars!
Speaking of use cases, word on the dock is that one of the first of these silent swimmers will be ferrying school children across the Swedish archipelago. A bit fancier than my old school bus! But with applications for shuttle services, diving companies, and coast guards, this electric boat might just find its sea legs after all.
Now, just between us, while I'm ecstatic about the electric revolution, I do miss the old roar of a gasoline engine sometimes. But the allure of a quiet, eco-friendly ride across the waves? Irresistible! Will the X Shore Pro be the electric dream or a damp squib? Judging by the company's success with every boat ever released - it's gonna be a runaway train… sorry, boat. Though it won't run away too far… Nah, all jokes aside - a real marvel and I only wish we had more people at this game, bringing more electric boats to the market.
