There’s finally an electric vehicle with a connection to Tesla that can be piloted on water. No, it’s not the Cybertruck, it’s the Blue Innovations Group (BIG) R30, a new yacht that publicly hit the waves for the first time this weekend. The boat was launched on December 16, in St. Petersburg, Florida, where the company is based. It will provide “the ultimate boating experience,” according to John Vo, BIG’s founder and CEO. Before taking on the high seas, Vo was Tesla’s head of global manufacturing.
The electric yacht is equipped with a 221
kWh battery pack that weighs 4,536 kg and powers two motors with a
combined 800 HP, which will get it up to a targeted top speed
of 72 km/h. In addition, it comes with an integrated UI, and solar
charging capability to make it a first-of-its-kind all-electric cabin cruiser.
Measuring nine meters long, BIG
bills the R30 as the perfect vessel for friends and families who want to enjoy
the water. To that end, it has a “folding ocean terrace” that expands to allow
for more deck space. It also comes with a kitchenette, a fridge, air
conditioning, and a bathroom with a bidet.
First shown off at the Consumer
Electronics Show earlier this year, interested customers for the R30 can
reserve one for US$ 1,000. If they want to be one of the first 100 to get an R30,
they can pay for the “BIG Reservation,” which costs US$ 5,000. Production of the
yacht is set to begin in the third quarter of 2024 (not Q2, as was initially
indicated), and it has a targeted price of US$ 300,000.
