September 23, 2025

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting two of the founders of ENVGO to go for a ride in their NV1 Foiling Electric prototype. It was quite impressive and gives a clear picture of what will be possible in the future for boating with electric power. We plan a feature story on the NV1 in an upcoming issue of Canadian Boating magazine and for additional background, you can read our recent story by Mathew Chaner on the ENVGO NV1 and the founders. That ran in Boating Industry Canada News Week Digest in July.

This is a cutting-edge electric hydrofoil boat that received strong early support from backers, with the company announcing it has raised $2 million USD in its first seed round. ENVGO is co-founded by CEO Mike Peasgood and the team behind Aeryon labs who bring extensive knowledge of robotics, aerospace and drone technology to marine development. It was impressive to “fly” above the waves at a comfortable cruising speed of 22 knots. And, Canada has a lot more going on in the electric-powered boat space.

We have also written about the builders of electric PWCs, Taiga who just came out with their new Orca WX3. The new hull delivers extended capabilities with its versatile crossover platform, with up to two hours of fun on the water. The WX3’s hydrodynamically engineered extended hull provides exceptional stability, for cruising or casting from the rear deck, and its quicker to get on plane. A reinforced tow system and accessory-ready rear platform open the door to wakeboarding, waterskiing, tubing, and fishing setups.  Orca WX3 starts at US $23,999.

Returning as the lineup’s performance benchmark, Orca P2 is the evolution of the former Orca Performance  model. P2 continues to deliver industry leading handling and instant acceleration, now on a lighter, more refined platform for pure exhilaration on the water. Orca P2 starts at US $20,999.

Starting in 2026, all Orca models will be equipped with automotive-grade fast charging, using CCS1 in North America and CCS2 in Europe. This means riders can plug into the same widespread fast-charging networks used by electric cars, making it easier than ever to recharge on the go. With recent advances in battery design and software, Orca can charge in under 30 minutes with DC fast chargers.

Purpose-Built Electric Powertrain

At the heart of every Orca is Taiga’s next-generation electric powertrain, engineered from a clean sheet and manufactured in house to achieve the highest energy density in the industry.

Taiga’s new integrated Tractive Unit, a combined IPM motor and inverter package, features a fully redesigned control algorithm for incredibly precise, and responsive power delivery in the harshest conditions. It looks like Taiga is really back and ready to go!

Also, in this edition of Boating Industry Canada News Week Digest we have a story about another Canadian company, Vision Marine who builds the E-Motion 180E electronic propulsion system. They have now partnered with Hydrofin, the company who developed a foiling system for pontoon boats. This is a smart connection! Two-tube pontoons are less expensive but generally, they are not fast, they lean out on the turns and push a lot of water around as they go. That was how the test boat had been running when we first tried it in Muskoka.

Then, we reported that with the Hydrofin foils freshly installed on that two-tube pontoon with a 115 hp outboard, you could feel the boat lift and pick up speed as we passed the 20-MPH mark. Later, after a few adjustments were made, we saw 38 mph on the GPS. That’s a remarkable speed for a big two-tube pontoon with just 115 HP.

Our Hydrofin story ran in Boating Industry Canada News Week Digest in 2022 and later in Canadian Boating magazine. Now Vision Marine will use the Hydrofin system to give their Vision E-Motion 180E equipped pontoon boats far higher top speeds and longer run times too. Smart!

There is a lot happening here in Canada and I’m both proud and pleased to see these companies poised for a great future!

Andy Adams – Editor