Blue Innovations Group (BIG), a company founded by former Tesla Production boss John Vo, has unveiled an electric boat called R30. It has already made its first trip in Florida, Carscoops reports. You can place an order now with an advance payment; the full price will be close to $300,000 when the shipments start.
John Vo headed the production department of Tesla Inc. in the last decade. His company, BIG, previewed the boat concept at the CES-2023 in Las Vegas at the beginning of the current year. It was nine meters (30 feet) long and marketed towards people who like regular boat trips with their family members or friends.
The company claims it has designed the whole vessel from scratch with no reference to the competition whatsoever. It received a transforming rear pad that you can retrofit into a kitchen, a dining area, a rest area or a diving platform. All kitchen equipment including a fridge, as well as an air conditioner and a WC are already included in the base spec.
While there are a few solar panels on the roof, most of the power for the boat comes from a giant 221-kWh battery array Dual electric motors output 811 PS (800 hp / 596 kW) to the propellers, accelerating it to a top speed of 72 km/h (45 mph).
The production is slated to begin in the third quarter of the next year. All buyers will be asked for a $1,000 deposit, and those who want to be in the first 100 customers’ list will need to transfer $5,000 as soon as possible.