Fountaine Pajot and Dream Yacht Worldwide launch electric catamaran line

Charter company, Dream Yacht Worldwide and luxury catamaran builder, Fountaine Pajot are partnering to launch a new collection of electric catamarans. 

The first to launch electric yachts at scale for consumer retail purchase and worldwide yacht charter, the two global brands say they expect the collection to have a significant impact toward more sustainable sea holiday experiences worldwide.

Fountaine Pajot’s new Aura 51 Smart Electric will be the first electric model introduced to the Dream Yacht Worldwide fleet, and will be available for charter in Italy at the beginning of April 2023.

Designed with the goal of producing a zero-emissions propulsion energy system specifically for yachting, the Aura 51 Smart Electric model is equipped with electric motors and an intelligent onboard energy management system. It’s powered by highly efficient electric engines, with two lithium technology battery banks for storage which, according to the boatbuilder, can provide hours of motor cruising, or as much as a week at anchor without any emissions. 

Dream Yacht Worldwide and Fountaine Pajot say they are aligned in their commitment to sustainability and reducing ecological impact, and have agreed on an ongoing partnership, expected to bring more than 22 electric yachts to the Dream Yacht fleet by spring of 2024. Of these, 10 will be sailing catamarans and 12 will be sailing yachts from Dufour, a part of the Fountaine Pajot Group. 

“By partnering and supporting the research and development of electric yachts, we can continue to make sailing accessible to people around the world but with a lower impact on our seas and environment,” says Loïc Bonnet, CEO and founder of Dream Yacht Group. “Being environmentally conscious is central to our mission to protect our planet and oceans, and we are confident that our charter clients will support this endeavour.”

Romain Motteau, deputy CEO, of Fountaine Pajot, comments: “Aware of the urgency of preserving the planet, we are living through a great cultural change. The new generation expects much of us at the dawn of this new era and these realisations. Our owners are also changing their needs and today expect their boat to be more environmentally responsible, while maintaining a high level of demand in terms of comfort.

“As part of an external audit, it has been established that 20 per cent of our carbon footprint comes from production and 80 per cent from the use of the boats.”

Through research and technology, Fountaine Pajot says it is going further with cleaner manufacturing processes, more efficient sail design, and electric engines fuelled by renewable energies, with the release of the Aura 51 Smart Electric being just the first step in an ongoing commitment and joint ambition of achieving an all-electric yacht offering zero carbon emissions by 2030.