Can you describe your concept??
The Lupo looks like a motorcycle, but electric and foil. It is driven in the same way as a two-wheeler and the sensations felt are at the crossroads between those provided by a glider and a motorcycle.
Is there a need for a permis??
No since the motor is less than 4.5 kW. The Ministry of Transport has just allocated us a category and we are recognized as a hydrofoil. It is therefore neither a MNV (Motorized Watercraft) nor a beach toy.
Where did you get the idea to develop an electric jet and foil??
I had been working in the field of electric vehicles for years and I met a large hotel chain that wanted to rebuild its fleet of jets, but without noise or smoke.
There have already been ideas to electrically motorize a jet-ski, but the performance and the cost of the batteries were not satisfactory in terms of price, speed and range. Electrifying a jet-ski today makes no sense. When you look at the selling prices and the performances brought, it is far from that of a thermal jet and it is much more expensive.
So I wanted to offer a brand new experience, far away from the jet, and I thought of the foil. It reduces friction, increases autonomy and offers the same piloting sensations. The objective is not speed, but the feeling of piloting.
The model presented in Paris will be a prototype or a version fiabilisée??
The Lupo is validated and reliable. The project required 18 months of research and collaboration with 5 different design offices, a naval architect for research on aerodynamics, electronics, materials We presented it at the Nina Awards, a competition for innovative companies in the field of nautical engineering on the Atlantic coast and we won 2nd prize.
The first deliveries will begin at the end of the second quarter of 2018. The industrialization process is starting. The offices and factory will be installed in Nantes.
Who is Lupo? for?
We first target a clientele of boaters with a limited edition model. In 2019, a second, more affordable and accessible model will be released for leisure centres and professionals. We are already in discussion with rental companies for nautical bases.
What is your strategy for lancement??
We have voluntarily chosen not to communicate on this project. We are waiting for Paris to make the buzz and present a totally new product. The version presented at the Nautic will be much more disruptive than the sketches. We limit our communications, we don't communicate on price, design, performance, etc. We don't communicate on price.
The model presented will be a limited edition of 250 models due to our production rate. The Lupo will be entirely in full-carbon and hand-made.
It will also serve as a showcase for the company's technological know-how.
