AEW24 breaks cover; Mythos AI hits the water; University of Michigan eBoat

🛝 Mythos AI unveils MNAV autonomy—why electric boats should care

New USV system is built for speed and range. Smarter routing, collision avoidance, and port digital twins can extend electric runtime and safety.

Mythos AI launched MNAV, an autonomy stack designed for unmanned surface vessels that need reliable operation at speed and over distance. The company says the system has been tested on major waterways and is now deployed with customers. For electric craft, better autonomy can translate into longer useful range, tighter energy budgets, and safer operations in crowded ports.

The launch arrives with a detailed announcement outlining intent: full-speed self-driving optimized for USVs, including perception, planning, and control. The stack is pitched for long-range sectors where kW-hours are scarce and sensor fusion must run at the edge. That aligns with electric patrol, hydrographic, and survey boats that value precision routing and minimal rework.

Recent partner activity reinforces the trend. Ocean Power Technologies highlighted a collaboration to fold Mythos autonomy into persistent maritime platforms, indicating demand for systems that can handle variable sea states, complex traffic, and tight power envelopes. For electric vessels, autonomy that avoids hard acceleration and needless loitering directly saves energy.

What to watch next: MNAV trials on battery-electric pilot boats and port service craft. The biggest wins tend to come from better traffic management and path planning that avoids stop-start patterns—each spike drains kW-hours and heats packs. Pairing autonomy with shore-side data, pilots can time arrivals to open berths and available fast charging, shaving dwell time and keeping duty cycles predictable.

Why it matters: electric marine adoption depends on dependable schedules and safe maneuvering around conventional traffic. Autonomy that respects energy limits while improving safety unlocks more missions per charge.

Read about the MNAV launch - here.

⚙️ Voltaic’s AEW24 makes its public debut

Voltaic Marine’s first AEW24 hull has “broken cover” and is moving to initial float tests. The company shared the milestone as part of its build updates, confirming the 24-ft electric wake boat is transitioning from shop work to on-water validation. The debut matters for a segment that demands high, sustained torque and precise wake control.

The AEW24 program sits inside Voltaic’s broader push following a $3 million pre-seed round. Company messaging ties the funding to consumer production of the AEW24 and ongoing development of modular USVs for demonstrations. That capital sets up dealer programs, early production, and additional testing cycles.

Dealer materials, subject to change as testing proceeds, frame the AEW24 around an aluminum hull with integrated ballast and surf systems, bow and stern thrusters, and a high-output electric drivetrain advertised at up to 500–570 hp. Listings also cite large-pack energy (up to 200–300 kWh) aimed at multi-hour mixed-use sessions.

Why it matters: wake sports strain batteries and thermal systems. Aluminum can manage impact and simplify repair while keeping structural mass predictable. Electric torque improves rider pull and repeatability, while thrusters help docking a beamy, ballasted craft in tight marinas. If Voltaic can convert this first-float phase to a steady demo cadence, the AEW24 will become a bellwether for large-pack, high-draw recreational boats.

Next steps include progressive water trials and control-system tuning. Look for updates on surf-wave shaping at surfing speeds, hot-lap endurance at towing speeds, and real-world charge profiles at common marina voltages. The debut is a necessary gate on the path to customer demos and early deliveries.

Read more - here.

🌊 Inside UM Electric Boat—student-built speed and range on batteries

University of Michigan’s Electric Boat team targets endurance marathons and open-water demos, then aims for Monaco with student-designed drivetrains.

The University of Michigan Electric Boat (UMEB) team is a student club that designs and races battery-electric boats, from short-course sprints to 24-mile endurance runs. Their calendar includes the Wye Island Electric Boat Marathon—an open-water 24 nm/mi course in Maryland—and ASNE’s Promoting Electric Propulsion (PEP) races, which focus on university-built electric craft.

UMEB documents recent goals to show “speed at range” and to prepare for Monaco Energy Boat Challenge participation, including SeaLab prototypes and the E-Boat Rally between Monaco and Ventimiglia. These events reward real-world energy budgeting: steady-state cruise, efficient hulls, and clean charging turnarounds.

Why it matters for electric marine: student teams pressure-test affordable packs, motors, and controls in demanding formats—five-mile sprints at PEP and tidal endurance at Wye Island—then share results that trickle into small-craft builders. Programs like PEP have grown from a handful of schools to dozens, accelerating the talent pipeline for electric boat design.

If you’re scouting the next generation of electric-marine engineers, keep an eye on UMEB’s race prep and post-event data: prop selection, current-draw logs, and thermal maps are exactly the artifacts small OEMs can use to de-risk first runs.

Explore UM Electric Boat - here.

📅 Weekly Scan (News and Events)

• Mythos AI launches MNAV autonomy for USVs | 2025-12-03 | Smart Maritime Network | Autonomy stack supports higher-speed, longer-range unmanned ops, relevant to electric duty cycles. | Link

• Vision Marine posts FY2025 results after Nautical Ventures deal | 2025-12-02 | Marine Industry News | Financials and distribution scale signal broader channel reach for electric outboards. | Link

• Canada’s Ocean Supercluster backs Electric Lobster Boat demo | 2025-12-04 | NationTalk | $4.4 M project supports Indigenous-led commercial electrification in Atlantic fisheries. | Link

• ePropulsion Spirit 2 covered this week by trade media | 2025-12-02 | Boating Industry (Canada) | Fresh coverage keeps attention on compact outboards heading into 2026 orders. | Link

• Damen launches electric-ready Island Class for BC Ferries | 2025-12-01 | Maritime Industry News | Platform supports future battery integration on Canadian regional routes. | Link

• Molslinjen orders third fully electric high-speed ferry from Incat | 2025-12-05 | ship.energy | Adds momentum to large-format battery ferries on the Kattegat corridor. | Link

• Evoy-Vita Breeze 120+ hp inboard update from METSTRADE | 2025-12-06 | Powerboat & RIB | New-gen inboard package strengthens options for 15–50 ft electric craft. | Link 

• Silent Yachts 62 Tri-Deck begins solar electric Atlantic crossing | 2025-12-04 | Plugboats | Real-time voyage showcases solar-assist cruising and energy dashboards. | Link

• IMarEST/RINA finals: Zero-Emission Cargo Ship challenge (event) | 2025-12-08 | IMarEST | Near-term talent pipeline for electric and hybrid naval architecture. | Link 

• CharIN: Inside EV Charging Summit—US Edition (event) | 2025-12-11 | CharIN | Cross-sector charging standards with marine spillover on connectors and safety. | Link

🏄🏾‍♂️ Social Media Post of the Week

Robots joining the chat!