It was designed to respond to the the nautical market’s need for a vessel with driving characteristics resembling the manoeuvring of a car. Moreover it is energy-efficient and does not pollute the environment. We are already familiar with energy-efficient and ecological vehicles and aircraft (Tesla and Pipistrel), but this is the first product with those qualities designed for the nautical industry.

"Throughout the entire project, we were led by the idea of constructing a watercraft, which would not merely be an advance in design and high technology. We wanted it to contribute to cleaner salt and fresh water and to a cleaner planet, which we have borrowed and received to manage and upkeep for our children and their descendants. It is our responsibility to leave them their inheritance in the form of a preserved environment and enable them to live and create in a healthy environment," says Marko Popović from the Quadrofoil company.

The trends in reducing emissions in road and air traffic have been present for some time, while the nautical industry lagged behind in the field of producing vessels, which would meet the strictest regulations in limiting emissions into the environment. "We want to change that. We also seek support and understanding from international decision-makers. In this regard, we particularly refer to ecological initiatives for the buyers and owners of electric vessels."

Slovenian knowledge
The Quadrofoil project is the result of a Slovenian team of experts led by Simon Pivec, R & D Director, who is the mastermind behind the idea and the co-designer of the vessel. At the end of 2011, he got an idea about a vessel with underwater wings and the first prototype was made six months later. A year later, it was presented at the Internautica boat show in Portorož. The response from the public and visitors was exceptional. The company also received the Project of the Year Award.

"At the end of 2014, one of the most important decisions was made, when we assessed that the vessel was ready for testing on the market, i.e. the collection of pre-orders. We organised a marketing campaign, into which we invested substantial funds, particularly in the making of a film, which has had almost one million views on YouTube. It has also exceeded several million views on web-based networks in Eastern Asia," says Popović.

Their success escalated. They sold all vessels from that series and received more orders than they could meet with their current production resources. Their order book is full until July 2016.

Great demand
The vessels are displayed all over the world. At the end of 2015, Quadrofoil was featured at the international fair in Qatar from where it went to Dubai. This February, the vessel was put on display at the Eurasia Boat Show in Istanbul and in April it is going to Singapore Yacht Show.

Visitors' responses are incredible. The design of Quadrofoil is what first attracts the eye. There were many attempts in the past of designing attractive vessels with hydrofoils; however, many manufacturers merely tried to upgrade the “classic” form of the vessel. "We completely changed the concept and made a vessel which exceeded the nautical design. This is also one of the reasons for the constant inflow of queries for setting up Quadrofoil on mega yachts worth several millions. When planning, we knew that an attractive design would not be enough and that driving characteristics and energy efficiency would also play an equally important role," explains Popović.

We thus made and patented a steering system, which enables exceptional agility and driving characteristics, which so far were only possible when driving a car. Their engineers also combined a high-performance electrical engine with hydrofoils, which drastically reduces the costs (less than EUR 1 per one hour of driving) and may be lower by fifty-fold if compared with petrol-fuelled vessels.

Buyers from around the world
"Our market is global because we believe that every sea, river and lake needs Quadrofoil. Our clients come from every corner of the world: the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Croatia, Russia, China, the USA, Spain, Switzerland, Hungary, Australia, the Netherlands, Monaco, Mauritius, Turkey etc."

They are particularly happy to receive queries from areas which are saturated with exhaust gases or overburdened with road traffic. Quadrofoil’s contribution in such areas is so much greater. Image driving to work or an afternoon errand along city river canals: no rush hour, on less than EUR 1 per one hour of driving and no consequences on the environment.

The versatile and successful future of the ecological approach in connection with supreme design is also denoted in the many requests for representation which the Quadrofoil company receives from all over the world. So far, they received over 850 requests for representation from 120 countries.

About Quadrofoil
Quadrofoil is a high-tech development company with a team of skilled engineers, nautical enthusiasts and visionaries, who designed and manufactured the world's first fully electric powered and completely environmentally friendly personal hydrofoiling watercraft.