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The 630X is the second model from Green Waves, joining the GW 601, introduced in 2019 and now being enjoyed by 30+ extremely satisfied customers, like this one quoted on the Green Waves site:
“This boat gives us 100% joy and no sorrows. On the stern it says 100% electric, and people in all age groups give a thumbs up when we pass. When someone drives up next to us to ask the usual questions about range and speed, I start the conversation by saying: ‘Sorry, I can’t hear anything because your boat is making noise’ – which always produces spontaneous laughter in the other boat.“
The 601 was also selected to be in the stable of Oslo boat-sharing service Kruzer because it is ideally suited for a silent, leisurely outing with friends. Green Waves wanted to broaden its range, though, and so began work on the 630X model.
The GW 630X is different from Green Waves’ first boat literally from the bottom up. The original 601 is based on a very standard Norwegian sloop design, but for the 630X the team started with a clean sheet and designed the hull specifically for electric motors and battery packs.
Every aspect of the 630X has been created to move performance up a notch and offer a boat for the recreational or family user who wants an electric day boat with higher speed potential.
The hull has a ‘V’ configuration and lifting strake to cut cleanly through the water and is made of aluminum, chosen for its combination of recyclability, strength, ease of production and light weight. The Green Waves 630X is 6.3 metres long (20.5 feet) and has a beam of 2 metres (6.5 feet), but weighs in at only 900 kilograms (1,984 lbs) – quite impressive for a boat that holds 6 comfortably.
That 6.3 metre length does not include the swimming platform at the stern, which was added to the design after sea trials of the basic hull. Green Waves’ market research has shown that most customers use their boats to ‘get away from it all’, out on the water for a day, maybe with a picnic lunch, refreshments and swimming.
The Green Waves team worked with Eker Design, one of Norway’s top firms, to create all of the creature comforts and conveniences those customers are looking for.
The whole area behind the centre pilot console has been designed as a sort of salon on the water. A table seats six and the sofa at the stern has a back that flips down to become the first step of the diving platform. The platform itself is at water level to provide easy access for everyone on the boat, including kids. (Note: photo at top and video are of the prototype, before the seating / sofa/ platform design.)
The area ahead of the console also has seating, as well as storage space in the bow and along the sidewalls for ropes, fenders and other necessities like towels and coolers ?
On the operational side, the GW 630X has twin 15kW pod motors for a total of 30kW and a 30 kWh LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery pack, with the option for more energy capacity. The battery compartment is heated for optimum use in the Norwegian winters or chilly days of autumn and spring.
Having the first electric-only production boat in Norway is a big achievement, and is a culmination of literally generations of work and experience.
The story of Green Waves started with Ole Salomonsen, who has been involved in every aspect of the marine industry over a 50 year career. The idea for an electric boat company in Norway first came to him in 2008 was working on a project in Dubai and got inspired by the government there, who talked about electrifying some of the taxi boats (abra) in the harbour.
He had a beautiful old wooden sloop at home and decided it would be the perfect candidate for an electric refit. When he got it out on the water the reception from friends and strangers alike was impressive enough that he thought there might be an opportunity to build a business around the concept.
The Salomonsen family have lived by the sea in Norway for generations, and in 2017 they decided to take the leap to the next era of boating together. And so Green Waves was founded, with Ole as Technical Leader, sons Karsten as Service Technician and Carl Fredrik as Technical Advisor (they both worked with Ole on the original electric wood boat) and Daughter Ida, a graduate of the BI Norwegian Business School, as CEO.
The prototype of the 630X was actually ready to be revealed at the Sjøen for Alle (Oslo International Boat Show) in the fateful month of March of 2020. The show was cancelled, for reasons we all wish we didn’t know about, but the prototype was featured at that time on an edition of the TV show Good Morning Norway.
Through 2020 and 2021, with sales of the 601 increasing – in part because of the big demand for boats during the pandemic – and the final design elements of the 630X underway, Ida realized that it was time for Green Waves to prepare for serial production. In September of 2021 they raised raised 7,5 million NOK – a full 25% more than their original goal – on Norwegian crowdfunding site Dealflow.no
This spring they moved into their new facilities in Gjerstad and are now taking orders for the delivery of the 630X in Norway in 2022, internationally for 2023. With a fully refundable deposit of NOK 10,000 (€1,050 / USD $1,150) purchasers can secure their place in the schedule and receive the “First Wave Edition” as well as an extended service offer. Full details, including information about test drives, can be found on the Green Waves site.
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Plugboats ELECTRONS is an occasional collection of electric boat news and electric boating items that we have written about before
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