Test: Axopar 25 Electric - E-Power with a family history from the far north

The company EVOY was founded in 2018 in Floro, Norway, a town with around 9,000 inhabitants located around 150 kilometres north of Bergen. Its founder, Leif A. Stavostrand, worked on ships and in the oil industry for many years before deciding to launch the "Green & Lean Base" project, which is all about reducing greenhouse gases.

He also completed a Bachelor of Science in Navel Architecture and an Executive MBA before founding EVOY together with his father. Today, the company employs around 40 people and develops high-performance electric drives. These are inboard motors with a power class of 120 hp (Breeze) and 400 hp (Hurricane). The programme also includes outboards: the 120 hp (Breeze) and 300 hp (Storm).

The Axopar 25 in the test

I was travelling with the latter, the prototype was on an Axopar 25. We already have the Axopar with combustion engine (250 hp). Tested in 2022 and were already enthusiastic about their driving characteristics at the time.

What can the model with electric motor do? We drove the boat in our home waters off Floro.

Loaded with four people, we set off comfortably out of the harbour towards the sea at around 4 knots. In the area of the famous Stabben lighthouse, which lies in the middle of the fairway, I do my laps. I push the throttle forwards and off we go, with plenty of pressure, because the electric outboard motor accelerates the test boat really well. The bow lifts only slightly and the Axopar manages over 50 knots. Anyone can probably imagine that you shouldn't drive at this speed for very long due to the high power consumption of the motor. If you reduce the speed to around 25 knots, you can still travel 26 nm according to the EVOY.

The driving position on which I perform the manoeuvres naturally looks similar to that of its sister from 2022. The controls and gear levers are unrestricted and easy to operate. As usual, the monitors installed on the boat are also suitable as chart plotters and as displays for speed, current power consumption, battery status and remaining range, for example.

Good driving behaviour

I drive the boat at high speed on the Salom course, where the Axopar demonstrates safe and stable handling behaviour. It reacts directly, but not unpleasantly, to steering movements. The same applies when the rudder is twisted, where the hull remains absolutely stable. That leaves the increasingly tight gybes: here, too, the two-stage Axopar hull shows good handling behaviour.

The Axopar 25 is available in different cockpit layouts. In the 2022 test version, we had a U-shaped seating area with a table that can be converted into a sun lounger. Our electric version, on the other hand, was equipped with the "Multi storage compartment". This is a huge upholstered area with a plug-in backrest. And underneath is a huge storage compartment, which is full of technology on the test boat. For example, the control unit and charger are located here, and the batteries are safely stored one level below. The system works with an operating voltage of 800 V. It almost goes without saying that a high level of safety is required at this voltage. In terms of protection classes, Evoy specifies IP 66 for the outboard motor and IP 67 for the batteries. We get a glimpse of the technology with the sunbed folded up. Here we can see the controller and some thick electrical cables. Everything looks well fastened and stable. Evoy reckons that the cables on board weigh around 75 kg, the motor weighs 265 kg and the NMC battery pack weighs around 760 kg plus 20 kg of coolant.

The batteries are charged with a standard 22 kW charger (3-phase, 32 A, 400 V), but can also be connected to all other AC sockets.

Monitor Axopar via mobile phone

The Axopar can be monitored 24/7 via mobile phone so that I always have control of the entire system and boat, whether at home or on the move. For example, the current charge status or GPS data is displayed and sensors can also be read out. How much does such a drive unit cost? The installed system is listed on the Evoy website at a price of 154,700 euros excluding VAT.

To the boat

The seats in front of the driver's platform are sportily cut and upholstered. From there, the driver has everything under control and in view. He sits together with his co-pilot behind a windscreen that provides effective protection against the wind and bad weather. The other passengers are seated on the aforementioned large upholstered area in the rear. Of course, you can also sunbathe there and one section further aft you will find the split bathing platform. Above the outboard motor is a solid water ski bracket to which you can easily attach the wakeboard line.

Marius Dyrseth (Chief Technical Officer at Evoy) tells us that waterskiing and wakeboarding behind Axopar Electric works really well. The cabin has a double berth as standard, and a marine toilet is on the list of accessories.

Technical data

• Shipyard: Axopar (FI)
• Type:25 Electric
• Hull and deck: GRP
• Length over everything: 8,00 m
• Width: 2,23
• Unladen weight: approx. 1950 kg
• Depth: approx. 0.85 m
• Clearance height: 1,65 m
• Battery capacity: 126 kWh
• Motorisation: EVOY Storm 300+ HP
• Outboard motorisation (max.): 300 HP
• Price: on request

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