A low-environmental-impact boat, created from natural, recyclable materials that works thanks to a solar panel system with advanced design and technology, all Made in Italy; this is the super-innovative idea developed byGardaSolar, based in Rovereto.

The product was first presented last year and will come into production in February, with the first models due to be delivered in June 2011. The boat can transport a maximum of four people and measures 3.85m length by 2m width, weighing 300kg and with 2.5 square metres of solar panels. This allows for the creation of a genuine “floating photovoltaic surface”: in fact, solar electric energy can be produced just by linking several boats together when moored.

The panels are used to charge up batteries and support the 1,000 watt electric engine (with zero environmental impact), allowing for totally silent navigation up to a 5 knots (approximately 10 km/h), enough for a whole day’s sailing. The electric engine is connected to a rotor blade on the stern, and can reach up to 15 knots. The boat is created from the latest recyclable polyethylene, creating a practically unsinkable three-layered hull, which is known for being more rigid and robust than either wood or fibre-glass. The GardaSolar boat, piloted using a highly intuitive joystick, is offered in two models: the most economical is called the “E-Light” and is most suited to daily use alongside traditional pedal boats, while the “E-Xclusive” will be the sporting version, with much stronger performance.

GardaSolar was created specifically from the project for a zero impact boat, whose designers Alberto Pozzo and Alessio Zanolli won the D2T Start Cup Prize in 2009. In just one and a half years the project became a reality and has attracted attention from all over the world, with test drive bookings from as far away as India, the Bahamas and Dubai. GardaSolar’s design and final assembly is carried out in Rovereto, where the various parts created by highly specialised Italian firms are mounted together. It is still early to establish a final price for the solar boat, but it is expected to be around 9,000 euros.

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