ZEN Yachts reportedly secured $5.86 million (€5.5 million) in Series A funding, fully led by Ocean Zero, LLC. Notably, the electric catamaran startup aims to use the funds to push through with developing the first hulls of its ZEN50 model.
“Ocean Zero seeks visionaries who have a realistic shot at making a significant leap in scale and impact to change the overall emissions of CO2 and other pollutants incurred by sea shipping, ferries and recreational boats. Decarbonizing sea transport and recreational boating no longer requires a leap in imaginative engineering and science. It’s possible right now. And time is running out. Boats produce more atmospheric CO2 each year than all the airlines in the world. This is a massive problem that has solutions that can be adopted immediately.
We need innovative companies like Zen Yachts to lead us into the new world of boat electrification.”
Stephen Petranek, Ocean Zero’s operating partner
Remarkably, the company has also announced that it has received additional orders for its first innovation, ZEN50 solar electric catamaran. With three more pre-orders, ZEN Yachts’ first four reservations for the ZEN50 are fully occupied.
About ZEN Yachts
Zero Emission Nautic Ltd. (ZEN Yachts) is a Spanish-based boatbuilder founded in 2021. The startup has merged wind sailing with electric propulsion to increase the performance of zero-emission yachts and boost their appeal.
Notably, its debut product, the ZEN50, marks the company’s entry into the marine sector.
About the ZEN50
ZEN Yachts presently constructs the more than 50-foot solar-powered electric catamaran in Barcelona. It is equipped with a 160 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack and two 50kW brushless DC motors. Furthermore, it has a capacity of ferrying 12 passengers.
Remarkably, the ZEN50’s solar panel roof powers the main pack, allowing a 16 kW maximum power. It can cruise at 4.5 to 5 knots solely on solar power and at 14 or more knots on an electric motor and wing sail.
“The majority of solar catamarans currently on the market are equipped with a large generator, making them de facto hybrid diesel-solar-electric boats. They offer great speeds in a variety of conditions but are less eco-friendly than true zero-emission vessels.
We wanted the ZEN to be a true solar boat, that’s why the first unit in construction is not equipped with any generator and will not carry a single drop of fossil fuel onboard (indeed even the tender is electric and recharged by the mother vessel).”
ZEN50 architect, Julien Mélot
It is also worth noting that the ZEN50 yacht is the first series-production luxury vessel with AYRO’s Oceanswings fully automated wing sail technology.
Intriguingly, a production delay for carbon hulls has resulted from the company’s decision to invest in series-production molds, which are currently underway. Meanwhile, the ZEN Yachts expects the delivery of hulls 1 and 2 in Q1 and Q2 2024, correspondingly owing to its production turnaround.
Nonetheless, mid-April will witness ZEN Yachts make its formal premiere at the International Multihull Exhibition in La Grande Motte, France. It will be followed by the company’s first-ever Community Days at its Barcelona HQ on June 8–9.
