Electric boats are all the rage these days, with more and more showing up at various boat shows in recent years. This past fall, when I had the opportunity to test drive the only fully electric personal watercraft (PWC) on the market, I jumped at the chance. Literally—sprinting from my booth at the Annapolis Powerboat Show, donning foulies, and jumping on the Taiga Orca where it sat waiting at the Demo Dock.
Apart from being the only fully electric PWC, the Taiga Orca is also the world’s first high-performance electric PWC. Based in Canada, Taiga Motors is on a mission to electrify the off-road segment, from snowmobiles to personal watercraft, to allow users to sustainably explore the world without compromising on performance and power.
The Taiga Orca P2 is a one- to two-person model built with a 100-percent electric Tractive Unit which delivers up to 120 kW (or approximately 160 horsepower), providing instant torque and near silent operation.
There are three drive modes: Range, Sport, and Wild. Range mode limits power and acceleration, so it’s going to prioritize preserving the battery. Sport mode gives you a little bit more of everything, making it a good compromise between performance and energy efficiency. Wild mode is the most powerful, unlocking the Orca’s full performance capability.
So, what does it feel like out on the water? Upon hopping onboard, the setup feels similar to a typical PWC, light and nimble, and I was able to cycle through each of the drive modes. For my test I kept it in Range mode while putting out to the channel from the show docks but while running at speed I primarily drove it in Sport or Wild mode (with Wild being my favorite).
One of the best words I can use to describe the Taiga Orca is playful—it really wants to get up and go; it also takes tight corners well and had no problem with boat wakes that day out on the Severn River. While I didn’t attempt to hit its top speed during my test, Electrified Marina lists it at around 60 mph. They also state that acceleration is 0-30 mph in under 2.5 seconds.
When it comes to charging, there are three different option levels. Each Taiga vehicle includes a Level 1 charging connector, capable of plugging into standard wall outlets; charging time is approximately 14 hours. To maximize the 6.6kW charging rate, Taiga recommends installing a standard Level 2 charger for faster charging on standard 240V outlets (you can purchase a Taiga charger or any Level 2 charger used for other electric vehicles). With this option, there’s an approximate three-and-a-half-hour charge time. The final option is Level 3—supercharge in 20 minutes to 80 percent battery capacity using the expanding network of Aqua-Taiga chargers or use one of over 20,000 fast chargers compatible with Taiga vehicles (find a compatible charger map at taigamotors.com). Battery range at cruising speed is around 28NM and you can typically run up to two hours on a single charge, though this can vary.
While we can’t personally speak to maintaining an Orca, Taiga boasts that their electric watercraft are a breeze to own and maintain because unlike gas-powered engines, the Orca does not require oil, spark plugs, or mechanical know-how to maintain. Some servicing can often be down through a simple software update, and they claim that if you stow your Orca away with at least a 60 percent charge over the winter months, it’ll be ready to go in the spring. After spending the better part of a fall weekend winterizing my outboard, that definitely sounds like a plus.
Electric boats, or PWCs for that matter, won’t necessarily be for everyone, but they certainly have their perks when compared to their gas-powered counterparts. You must look at the type of boating you plan to do and evaluate your needs (check out Lenny Rudow’s article for more information: proptalk.com/electric-boats-trickling-down-tributaries). But one thing is for certain—this electric PWC is extremely fun to ride.
Taiga Orca Specifications:
LOA: 9’5”
Beam: 3’8”
Draft (min): 11”
Displacement (approx., dry): 782 lbs.
Battery Capacity: 23 kWh
Battery Range (at cruising speed): 28 NM
Engine Power: 120kW/160 HP
For more information, visit the Taiga website or PropTalk supporter, Electrified Marina, in Norfolk, VA: (757) 206-2899
By Kaylie Jasinski