Porsche AG, Porsche Engineering, Studio F. A. Porsche, and Austrian boat builder Frauscher have developed the 850 Fantom Air. The electric sports boat uses standard 800-volt powertrain components from the Porsche Macan Turbo, adapted for marine use. The collaboration took the project from design to series-production readiness in approximately two years.
Highlights
- 800-volt powertrain components from the Macan Turbo rear-axle drive, including the battery and drive module, were adapted for marine application in the 850 Fantom Air.
- The permanently excited synchronous motor (PSM) delivers up to 400 kW and pairs with a 100 kWh lithium-ion battery, reaching speeds above 85 km/h.
- A modular installation concept allows the drive unit and battery unit to mount directly into a boat hull using defined mounting points.
- The 850 Fantom Air earned two industry awards, including “Powerboat of the Year 2024” at Boat Düsseldorf and “Best Boat of 2024” in the eBoat category at Berlin’s Boat & Fun trade fair.
Automotive Components Adapted for Marine Conditions
The core powertrain originates from the Macan Turbo’s rear axle. However, marine use introduces demands that differ from road applications. Boats operate under sustained high-load conditions rather than the dynamic load cycles typical of cars. As a result, the 850 Fantom Air required enhanced cooling through optimized pump actuation.
Additional marine-specific adaptations include:
- Vibration resistance: A load-bearing mounting frame with steel cable damping protects the battery from wave-impact vibrations.
- Corrosion protection: The motor housing was newly developed and tested to marine standards for salt spray, corrosion, and leak resistance.
- Space constraints: Powertrain and battery packaging were engineered for the limited volume inside a boat hull.
- E/E architecture: The electrical and electronic systems were streamlined and supplemented by a custom control module.
“Only through close and trust-based cooperation with the individual specialist departments of Porsche AG have we succeeded, in just two years, in implementing a development that is ready for series production,” said Thomas Warbeck, Specialist Project Manager at Porsche Engineering.
Motor and Drivetrain Engineering
The PSM motor’s stator and rotor were carried over from the Macan Turbo unchanged. In the boat, the motor operates at approximately 6,000 rpm — well below the 16,000-plus rpm in the vehicle. This lower speed eliminated the need for internal gear reduction.
The only gearbox in the system is the standard boat Z-drive ahead of the propeller. It further reduces speed to around 3,000 rpm. Connecting the motor to the Z-drive posed a significant challenge. Early prototypes used a slip clutch, but it could not handle engine torques reaching 700 Nm. The production solution uses a jaw coupling with an elastomer insert. Additionally, the motor’s torque curve was calibrated to the clutch’s load limits.
“The necessary adjustments included the actuation for the marine powertrain, meaning that we could produce a combustion engine-like behavior with the advantages of an electric drive, in particular when it came to the torque characteristics,” said Sebastian Riesbeck, Specialist Project Engineer at Porsche Engineering.
Gateway Control Module Bridges Car and Boat Electronics
Porsche Engineering developed a dedicated gateway control module to connect automotive powertrain electronics with marine systems. In the Macan Turbo, the drive’s control architecture relies on vehicle-specific data connections. Many of those signals — such as wheel speed data or parking brake status — do not exist on a boat.
The team addressed this through rest-bus simulation. The gateway supplies the powertrain components with the signals they expect, even when the source systems are absent. For instance, the Macan only initiates charging when the parking brake is engaged. Engineers had to generate that signal synthetically for marine operation.
The module also meets marine-specific standards, including:
- EN 55016-2-3 and EN 6094 requirements for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)
- Compass deviation mitigation
- Overvoltage bus disturbance protection
“We were able to draw on our extensive expertise in the development and validation of sophisticated electronic architectures to analyze the signal flows in the car and to set up a suitable rest-bus simulation,” said Dietmar Luz, Electrical/Electronics Senior Expert at Porsche Engineering.
Software Development and Porsche Design Integration
The gateway module’s software was built on the AUTOSAR standard. A cross-border team from Germany, Romania, and the Czech Republic developed the system without existing standards for linking marine bus systems with automotive powertrains. Functional safety and software quality requirements from the automotive sector were transferred to the project.
On the design side, Studio F. A. Porsche collaborated with the engineering teams. The goal was to give Porsche drivers a familiar experience on the water. Design elements include a throttle with Sport and Sport+ mode buttons, vehicle-style display graphics, and a Porsche-styled steering wheel.
“With the low central positioning of the powertrain and the batteries in the hull, we have achieved unique handling characteristics,” said Jörg Kerner, Vice President Product Line Macan at Porsche AG.
Modular Concept and Broader Applications
The development team created a modular installation approach. The system consists of two primary modules: a drive unit with cooling and control systems, and a battery unit with its support frame. Both mount directly into a hull at defined attachment points.
This approach reduces development costs for boat manufacturers. It also simplifies boatyard installation. According to Riesbeck, the modularization is a globally unique solution for electric marine powertrains.
The powertrain can scale to other vessel types and sizes. For boats longer than ten meters, configurations with multiple parallel powertrains are feasible. Porsche Engineering has also indicated the underlying technology-transfer methodology could apply to sectors such as construction machinery.
Limited Production Underway
Frauscher has begun manufacturing a limited run of 25 units. Initial deliveries to customers worldwide are already complete.
“Due to the high level of interest from customers, we have now started to manufacture a small series of 25 boats,” said Florian Helmberger, Director Sales & Marketing at Frauscher.
The cable systems were also re-engineered for marine standards. The low-voltage harness was nearly fully reconfigured for appropriate cable cross-sections and protective sheathing. High-voltage wiring changes included extended charging cables and a modified charging socket. All components received marine sector certification.
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