Voltaic Marine, makes its debut with the AEW24, an electric-powered, aluminum boat, configured for waterports. But, during a Zoom meeting with Voltaic CEO, Richard Phamdo, I learned that Voltaic’s mission casts a wider net than wakesports, even though much of its management team are wake enthusiasts themselves. In fact, they claim to be completely reimagining how boats are built from the hull up and its flagship sports boat, the AEW24 is said to show just that.
I will see the Voltaic AEW24 at the Consumer Electronics Show– CES 2026—which happens in Las Vegas, January 6-9, 2026. We are also working with Voltaic to both get aboard, and ride behind, this new, aluminum-hulled, electric-powered boat as soon as it is practical to do so.
Voltaic is already in discussions with some pro riders, though no formal team roster has been announced.
AEW stands for Aluminum Electric Watersports.
Phamdo (CEO), and cofounders Will Stewart (CTO), Jonathan Yin (CPO/CSCO), and Cody Covey (COO), are working with noted boat company president and engineer, Peter Van Lancker (ex-Black Watch, ex-OMC, ex-Boston Whaler; ex-Hunt Yachts). During our meeting, the team disclosed plans for other boat types based on this plaform. Phamdo cited Voltaic Marine’s patented hull design and large, 300 kilowatt system, and the scalability of that system as key elements in the boatbuilder’s plans to deliver boats beyond watersports. When asked about range, Phamdo replied “we can deliver a full day on the water.” Upcoming testing will provide more specific numbers.
We also learned that Voltaic is working on some military applications. Electric boats with their low heat signature and low sound levels are ideal for a variety of military missions.
Below you can read the press release from Voltaic Marine. Look for more coverage, including results of on-water testing, coming sometime in early 2026.
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Introduction
At CES 2026, Voltaic Marine will showcase the AEW24, its flagship sports boat, marking the company’s transition from development into a production-intent marine platform.
The company made its presence known at the Michigan Mobility Pavilion, Booth #10115, where it was highlighted as a rising manufacturer building vessels in the Midwest. The debut isn’t just about showing off a shiny new boat — it signals Voltaic Marine’s transition from development mode into a production-intent marine platform. Attendees got the hands-on treatment, with demos highlighting system integration, onboard technology and design philosophy.
Company Vision and Financial Standing
So what’s driving this whole operation? Voltaic Marine’s mission is to advance and reindustrialize the maritime sector, with focus areas spanning consumer, commercial and defense markets. And they’re putting real money where their mouth is — the company recently closed a $3 million oversubscribed pre-seed funding round to accelerate its electric boat platforms.
Richard Phamdo, founder and CEO of Voltaic Marine, brings context that makes the company’s approach click. After over a decade in the automotive industry advancing electric and autonomous vehicles, he was struck by how slow the maritime world was evolving. As someone with a deep love for the water and boating, Phamdo started Voltaic Marine to accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies in maritime — always grounded in real-world applications and operational needs.
The AEW24 and Core Platform Architecture
Here’s where things get interesting. The AEW24 isn’t just another electric boat trying to ride the sustainability wave. It’s designed for a high-performance experience, blending instant torque propulsion, a modern user interface and sleek design. The goal? A clean, quiet, connected boating experience.
The AEW24 serves as the first proof of Voltaic’s scalable marine platform. Let’s break down what that actually means:
Foundational Hull Design: We’re talking a patented, purpose-built hull shaped to support advanced propulsion, delivering smooth rides and consistent performance. Not just slapping batteries into an existing design.
Class-leading Battery Capacity: Designed for extended runtime with cooling integrated into the hull itself to maintain performance during demanding use. (No overheating mid-lake, thank you very much.)
Platform Architecture: A smart, integrated system featuring intuitive controls, onboard diagnostics and a modular design built to scale across fleets and future platforms.
“AEW24 represents a real inflection point for us,” Phamdo said. “What we’re showing at CES is a full-scale platform that delivers the performance today while laying the groundwork for where marine technology is headed.”
Pre-orders are open now, with deliveries expected to begin at the end of 2026.
Future Expansion and Market Solutions
The scalable platform isn’t a one-trick pony — it’s capable of powering future consumer, commercial and defense applications. Following the AEW24, Voltaic Marine plans to expand into additional models, commercial utility vessels and purpose-built defense variants. All future vessels will share unified hardware and software systems, which (if you’ve ever dealt with fleet management) is no small thing.
The company has outlined its market solutions clearly:
- Recreation: Power for the ultimate boating experience
- Commercial: Dependable performance with lower operating costs
- Defense: Mission ready for national resilience in an evolving global landscape
What Voltaic Marine is betting on is this: the future of maritime will be shaped by high-performance vessels, breakthrough technology and bold innovation. They’re not just building boats — they’re trying to redefine what’s possible on the water.
