Pre-order is live. $15k USD with production starting in August 2021: Products – Audi e-tron foil by Aerofoils
Pros: safety (first commercial impeller), direct drive [looking forward to knowing the motor details (Kv, manufacturer, slot/pole number)], remote control, battery quality up to Audi electric vehicle standards, tbc’d…
Cons: price (15,000€ including taxes + shipping for EU residents), is 32kg really “lightweight” ? No information about ESC, tbc’d…
Questions: how much energy (autonomy) is lost in this impeller compared to a propeller system ? What happened since the 2018 prototype, the hull cooling system seems abandoned.
I’m not sure that a company like Audi would implement a standard water jet knowing it’s inefficiencies. Maybe they’re using something like this.
It is not Audi, it comes from Aerofoils Gmbh not Audi, they just use the Etron name for marketing purpose. I think in agreement with Audi
I don’t think you really know enough to comment …
If you say so… and you know more about it…tell us
It’s finally available at the e-surfer Shop. The Audi e-tron Foil by Aerofoils. Shipping starts end of February and we will get our demo board this week, which we will offer for test rides in Berlin and later on other locations.
Audi e-tron Foil Highlights:
- Fully shielded drive for maximum safety
- Intelligent remote control with high-resolution color display
- Minimal water resistance for maximum glide
- 80 cm mast with low motor for maximum height
- Highly intelligent battery of the latest generation
- Two radio receivers for constant connection
- Maintenance free gearless motor
- All carbon fiber construction for maximum robustness with minimum weight
- GPS & Gyro for maximum safety
- Made in Germany
- Free smartphone app
Audi e-tron Foil – Technical data:
- Top speed up to 50 km/h*
- Range up to 120 minutes*
- Up to 40 km range*
- 32 kg weight including battery
- Tested for riders up to 100 kg
*Depending on setup, driver weight and conditions.
To answer the question above. Aerofoils is an Audi AG spin off. Audi is an investor and licensed the name to AeroFoils. Audi is also supporting Aerofoils with Know How and testing/manufacturing facilities.
I did ride an prototype in 2019 and the latest version in November 2021. It glides really very well and as you would expect from the Audi brand, it is using only high quality materials. It’s very well designed. Can’t wait to see the Avengers or 007 riding it
Andreas
Then they should show a rider that’s 100kg and not a rider that is around 50kg in the video. Show the foil performing to the max of its ability and I will be convinced. However we all know that the jet, while safer than a prop, still has 30% less performance so it will just never topple the other players…
Hi @Jezza , it is not a jet propulsion. It is a fully shielded propeller.
At my test ride in November I had 92 kg plus 5 mm wetsuit, vest and helmet which makes it almost 100 kg. It had no problems at all to lift me up.
Spring is coming, so you will see some bigger guys like me riding the Audi e-tron Foil on video. Stay tuned …
That pretty much looks exactly like a pump jet propulsor which will have less efficiency than Lift and Fliteboard props.
Its by definition a jet. It probably has an impeller design instead of prop and definately uses an end nozzle to increase outlet velocity.
Try to post normal consumption in wh/km as soon as you can Andreas. It looks really sweet with jet, but the 30% extra consumption is quite likely…
Unfortunately not. The plan was that I visit the factory to pick the board up, get a service training and do interviews. Then there was a Covid case on their side, after that in my family and now finally me. Everybody is doing okay. The new plan is mid of February.
Thanks for the updates , facing exactly the same thing in France in my town , finally everyone got it over the past 3 weeks ( mainly from schools ) …
I love the shape of the board. However it looks like they have a flat bottom. I wonder why they didn’t went with a double concave or so
Because for the amount of time you are on the water with the board the concave will add no value and it will just make production slightly harder and more expensive.
Seams to shift pretty good. Don’t understand a word what the guys are talking though…
For sure this type of propulsion will loose efficiency compared to propeller without duct, but would not be surprised if this would be industry standard in the future due to safety reasons. The design is much like the one on Awake Rävik.
Yeah, have to agree on the safety part. Their product look nice and safe. I’d say the company finding the best mix between prop & impeller with close to same efficiency as a prop would get some serious points (yeah I know by essence it’s difficult to have same efficiency,…).
Thats pretty much a Fliteboard with 80-90mm ducted prop/impellor. Not hard to make that at all. No ones really toyed on the forum with props/impellors that size as efficiency wise they aren’t as good. There would also be an argument to simply lengthen existing ducts to prevent body parts reaching the props if you wanted to add extra safety factor.