2023-05-18 19:24:00
On the Côte d’Azur in Cannes, automaker BMW and boat manufacturer TYDE presented THE ICON, an electric hydrofoil with an unusual prismatic chopped design, atypical for water transport. Although internal combustion engines dominate maritime transport, BMW has gone the other way by utilizing the powerful electric drive system and high-voltage batteries from BMW i electric vehicles.
Image Source: BMW/TYDE
The first of its kind, a battery-operated marine vessel offers emission-free boating experiences combined with luxurious design. With a length of just over 13 meters, THE ICON has a top speed of 30 knots (55 km/h) through the use of hydrofoils. When accelerating, the wings lift the boat’s hull above the water, drastically reducing drag and significantly reducing energy consumption compared to conventional boats.
The boat is driven by a pair of 100 kW electric motors powered by six BMW i3 batteries with a total capacity of 240 kWh. The power reserve is more than 50 nautical miles (92.3 km). The presentation of THE ICON took place in Porte de Cannes, where the boatmasters could go on a test trip to the exclusive soundtrack written by the famous contemporary composer Hans Zimmer (Hans Zimmer).
THE ICON was created by designers at Designworks, a subsidiary of the BMW Group with studios in Los Angeles, Munich and Shanghai. The design team worked with boat manufacturer TYDE to create an original hull inspired by origami, the Japanese art of paper folding. The width of the hull at the stern is 4.5 meters, as you move towards the bow, the hull narrows, resembling a wedge when viewed from above.
A sense of lightness permeates the entire space as natural light pours in from all directions, enhancing the experience of the boat trip and the shore on the horizon. The chairs are designed to rotate 360 degrees to give maximum pleasure from observing the picturesque views.
In addition, BMW suggests that swivel seats in the cabin encourage social interaction and the ability to choose an interlocutor. Even the control post is located in the center of the cabin, among the revolving passenger seats. The captain controls the vessel using voice commands, requesting detailed information about the status of the boat’s systems and weather forecast. For navigation, a 32-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 6K is used. Of course, there are also traditional controls like the steering wheel.
THE ICON is a fully production-ready prototype from BMW, which is introducing environmentally friendly technologies and zero-emission devices to maritime transport.2. THE ICON hydrofoil sets a new standard for a quiet and environmentally friendly watercraft with a touch of luxury, the company notes.
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