New Lasai solar electric overnight boat makes Dusseldorf debut

Spanish solar electric boat manufacturer Lasai, who had the autonomous range of their 22GL model certified by Bureau Veritas this year, will be debuting their fourth model – the Lasai 32KS – at the Dusseldorf Boat Show (‘Boot’) January 17 – 25. Bureau Veritas (BV) is a world leader in testing, inspection and certification services that analyzed the autonomy and electricity consumption of the Lasai 22 GL with a battery capacity of 58 kWh on July 9, 2025 and confirmed a Successful test (Report 28-48-A35-1-000007) registering an autonomy of 109.0 nautical miles (NM) (202 km / 125 mi) at an average speed of 5.97 knots (11.06 kph / 6.87 mph). The test took place over a time of 18.5 hours (5:30 am to midnight). Listen to this article as a podcast A couple of comments: First, Plugboats applauds Lasai’s initiative in having a recognized impartial authority conduct tests, because the electric boat industry sometimes gets knocked – rightly or wrongly – for claims about autonomy. Verified range of 109 nautical miles Secondly, that is a great result. The average speed of 5.97 kts is about the same as the cruising speed of a recreational sailboat (6 – 8 kts), and calculated over 18 hours. When you think about how a boat is used in real life, people don’t usually just go at one speed, they go fast sometimes, slow sometimes, and sometimes just sit on the water. The Veritas test shows that someone could take the Lasai out for a slow cruise almost literally as long and as far as they would reasonably like, but more important, they could use the electric boat the way they use a fossil fuel boat with their friends and families. Enjoy the journey They can leave the dock and go at a faster pace quit a good distance to find a nice bay, swimming or fishing or scenic dining spot, then anchor for however long they like and easily get back home at the same speed as their outward trip. “We’re not about speed,” said Lasai CEO Gari Telléría in an interview with Spanish website EFE, “although you do want it sometimes. We believe it’s very reasonable to also go slow, enjoy the journey without noise, fumes, or odours and be more careful with the environment and the planet’s sustainability.” Lasai was founded in 2021 and its first three models – the 22GL, 20GL and 20CR – have proven to be extremely popular dayboats, used both on inland waterways and for coastal outings. The new 32KS, which is 10-12 feet (3.0- 3.7m) longer, expands the company’s line up with a boat designed for comfortable overnight stays on board and longer journeys while maintaining the efficiency and convenience of Lasai’s proven solar-electric technology. Fully equipped interior cabin The first thing the designers and engineers did – for both propulsion and accommodations reason – was go to a catamaran design. The twin pontoons create less drag and water resistance and move through the water more efficiently than a large monohull. The span between the pontoon allows for a wide spacious helm and deck area (the beam 3 m / 10 ft) as well as a fully equipped interior cabin with en-suite head. The overall look both in and out is clean and sleek. Elegant lines and a refined silhouette stand up to closer inspection with attention having been paid to the finishing details. A draft of just under a half metre (19 in) allows easy access to bays and shallow areas. While it’s autonomy has not been certified, the company says the 32KS has a range of 80 NM (150 km / 92 mi) at 10 knots (18.5 kph / 11.5 mph). Top speed is 18 kts (33 khp / 21 mph). The propulsion system is two 50 kW electric pods (≈ 2 X 70 hp) fed by 120 kWh batteries and 1.3 kWp of solar panels. Solar energy is an important part of all Lasai boats. One of the company’s founders is Spanish entrepreneur José Galíndez, who started and later sold the highly successful renewable energy company Solarpack (now Zelestra). Lasai solar-electric: sustainable power boating The first two prototypes built were passenger water taxis that operated in the Port of Mahón (Menorca) and ran during their first 15 days of service totally on solar power, without plugging in to any charging infrastructure. The three original models were designed to be ‘energy neutral’, meaning that, in sunny conditions, running at 4.5 knots, the boat consumes the same amount of electricity it produces. Lasai is headquartered at the Automotive Intelligence Center, near Bilbao, and has strong ties to the local EV industry. CEO Gari Tellería was hired from the coach and bus manufacturer Irizar with a decade of experience as head of their e-mobility division. Lasai means ‘tranquility’ in Basque, which is expressed in their overall philosophy of ‘silent cruising’ as a way to counter the strains of modern life and “leave your stress on land” “We combine the pleasure of power boating with respect for the environment” says Telléria. ”Social awareness of environmental conservation ...