Marine

Taiga splashes out cheaper Sport and Performance Orca electric jet skis

Taiga splashes out cheaper Sport and Performance Orca electric jet skis
Taiga's new electric jet ski additions are scheduled for delivery from the middle of 2021
Taiga's new electric jet ski additions are scheduled for delivery from the middle of 2021
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The Orca Performance edition personal watercraft (shown) can get up to 65 mph, while the Sport edition tops out at 56 mph
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The Orca Performance edition personal watercraft (shown) can get up to 65 mph, while the Sport edition tops out at 56 mph
Taiga reckons that its electric jet skis emit up to 20 percent less noise than "competing combustion PWCs"
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Taiga reckons that its electric jet skis emit up to 20 percent less noise than "competing combustion PWCs"
Both the Performance (pictured) and Sport Orcas feature a plastic composite hull
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Both the Performance (pictured) and Sport Orcas feature a plastic composite hull
The Orca Performance has a per charge range of 37 miles at 28 mph, while the Sport edition can manage up to 31 miles
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The Orca Performance has a per charge range of 37 miles at 28 mph, while the Sport edition can manage up to 31 miles
Taiga's new electric jet ski additions are scheduled for delivery from the middle of 2021
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Taiga's new electric jet ski additions are scheduled for delivery from the middle of 2021
Both the Performance and Orca editions are designed to accommodate two, but the former can be optioned for three
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Both the Performance and Orca editions are designed to accommodate two, but the former can be optioned for three
View gallery - 6 images

Last September, Canada's Taiga Motors hit the water with a sexy US$24,000 carbon-bodied electric Jet Ski named the Orca. Now the company has put two more models up for pre-order, with prices starting at $15,000.

For that price tag you're looking at the two-person Orca Sport edition, which features plastic composite construction and is the lightest of the bunch at 242 kg (533 lb). It has a 90-kW Taiga Radix powertrain for a top speed of 90 km/h (56 mph) and its 20-kWh battery is reckoned good for up to 50 km (31 mi) of per charge range at 45 km/h. It comes with a 6.6-kW charger for a 3-hour charge time, but can be optioned up to a 9.9-kW flavor that will shave an hour off, and it can be made DC fast-charge capable too, which will top up the batteries in 30 minutes.

Adding another $2,500 to the starting price will get you the Performance edition. Again rocking a plastic composite hull, but weighing in at 267 kg (588 lb), this model shares the bigger battery and more powerful direct drive electric impeller of the now renamed Orca Carbon. That translates to 130-kW of grunt, a top speed of 104 km/h (65 mph) and a 25-kWh battery for up to 60 km (37 mi) of range at 45 km/h. Though this model is also a two person watercraft, it can be optioned up for three.

Both the Performance (pictured) and Sport Orcas feature a plastic composite hull
Both the Performance (pictured) and Sport Orcas feature a plastic composite hull

"Orca is the result of years of testing with hundreds of users across lakes, rivers, and oceans to provide the best possible riding experience," said the company in a press release. "The advanced plastic composite hull construction and compact design has enabled a lightweight watercraft that can accelerate to plane faster than any other PWC while remaining efficient and agile."

All three models in the range are 3.1 m (10.1 ft) long and 1.2 m (3.9 ft) wide, have 57 liters (15 gal) of storage to the front, and there's a 7-inch HD color display front and center, GPS speed and mapping, and LTE/Wi-Fi firmware updates. Bluetooth connectivity, user configurable power/acceleration/speed modes, and a brake and reverse system round out the given specs – though the Performance and Carbon editions also cater for user-operated trim adjustment.

The Sport and Performance Orcas are currently up for pre-order in a choice of three colors, with deliveries set to start in the (northern) summer of 2021. The video below from last year shows the kind of fun you can now have for less.

100% Electric Personal Watercraft - Taiga Orca

Source: Taiga Motors

View gallery - 6 images
5 comments
5 comments
guzmanchinky
These would be amazing for a lake that doesn't allow normal PWC because of noise.
JeffK
The video would be more effective without the musical soundtrack so the low noise signature could be appreciated. I actually don't even mind the gas powered craft if they are run away from the beach; it seems however that many drivers are operating under the delusion that everyone on the beachs is highly impressed by their expensive machines spinning in circles and crisscrossing in front of the designated swimming areas (hint, we're not).
AWF69
Какая связь между Тайга и аккумуляторным аквабайком?
michael_dowling
Alex: Тайга является производителем гидроцикла
michael_dowling
JeffK: Yes,for electric vehicles in particular,no music is what I want as well,just the ambient sounds. I could say what I think of the loud musical background version,but New Atlas wouldn't publish it due to profanity.