An electric brand for Frydenbo
The Norwegian group Frydenbo, already the head of well-known brands in the boating industry, such as Nordkapp, Sting and Airborne, built in its own factory in Poland, and also a distributor of Zodiac RIBs, has announced the launch of work on a range of electric boats. To do this, it has entered into a joint venture with the start-up company SES-X, which holds patents on surface-effect boats, to produce fast, autonomous electric boats. The new company is currently being structured, with the upcoming recruitment of a managing director and the envisaged arrival of additional investors during the spring of 2023.
A technology adapted to the electric
The objective of the two partners is to combine their know-how in a context that they consider mature for the electric boat. Frydenbo Marine, a branch of the Frydenbo group which employs 900 people, produces up to 1,000 boats per year. SES-X Marine Technologies has developed a series of patents to reduce the drag on planing boats by using the surface effect. By using the hull geometry, associated with a fan, a carpet of bubbles under the hull limits drag. Various tests have been carried out for several years, notably on passenger boats.
For the managers of the two companies, the technology should enable the new generation of electric boats to meet the requirements of boaters in terms of use and autonomy. Arve Fresvik, chairman of the board of Frydenbo is delighted: "Frydenbo is a market leader in the Nordic yachting industry. By combining this experience with SES-X's patented hull technology, we will be able to produce boats with significant performance benefits. The timing couldn't be better for both parties, as we look forward to great opportunities in the growing electric boat market."
