THE TECH-LICIOUS: MARINE

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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="Aquila has launched three new electric surfboards" height="358" src="http://images.gizmag.com/hero/aquila-surf.jpg" title="Aquila has launched three new electric surfboards" width="640" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">While they may not yet be a common sight on the world's beaches, powered
 surfboards have been cropping up on a fairly regular basis since Gizmag
 first covered the PowerSki JetBoard
 a decade ago. Now, Spanish firm Aquila is planning to launch a new 
range of zippy electric-powered boards, each designed for different 
surfing styles.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Aquila is spin-off from Bizintek Innova, a product development and 
engineering company that specializes in electronics. It initially began 
as a project to develop an electric propulsion system for use in 
water-sports.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"We were training on low voltage power electronics, motor control and
 LiPo battery management systems to get the know-how needed to offer 
development services for electric vehicle customers," explains Aquia CEO
 Iñigo Sobradillo Benguría. "We searched for an application to test and 
thought that trying to get a board planing over the water would be a 
great challenge. When we tested the first prototypes on the beach, 
people were impressed and came to ask where could they get one. At that 
time we realized that there could be an opportunity for a product."</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/aquila-electric-surfboard/32830/pictures#2" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="The three different boards are designed for beginners or cruising, carving and freestyle r..." src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/aquila-surf-13.jpg" width="530" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Made possible as a result of improvements in battery technology in 
recent years, the boards use a completely integrated electric-powered 
jet propulsion system and produce no noise or emissions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"It gets some water from the bottom part of the board and pressurizes
 it through the nozzle on the tail giving the board the thrust needed," 
explains Benguría. "Thrust is regulated through a wireless remote 
control and to turn it works like a surfboard. We have a high current 
Mosfet drive system with a microprocessor that controls the brushless 
motor and some other electronics for safe operation of the system."</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/aquila-electric-surfboard/32830/pictures#3" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="The boards are called the Manta, the Carver and the Blade" src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/aquila-surf-7.jpg" width="530" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">According to Benguría, the water pump was, in fact, the most 
challenging part of the design. The Aquila team was unable to find a 
suitable and efficient solution on the market, so ended up designing its
 own. The result, he says, was a lightweight, high efficiency and 
completely integrated system.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The battery packs that are used to power the boards are replaceable, 
meaning that they can be swapped out and recharged while a fresh battery
 is swapped in to continue powering the board.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The company is currently evaluating interest in the three electric 
board designs and seeking investors. The aim is to enter production in 
2015.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/aquila-electric-surfboard/32830/pictures#5" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="The top speed of the fastest board is 70 km/h (44 mph)" src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/aquila-surf-0.jpg" width="530" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Three board types are available. The entry-level Manta is aimed at 
beginners and those who enjoy relaxed cruising over flat water. Its top 
speed of 33 km/h (21 mph) is the lowest of the three options, but it 
also has the longest battery life at 30 minutes. It measures 230 x 98 cm
 (91 x 39 in) and will retail for €2800 (US$3800).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The Carver is designed for high-speed slaloming across the surface of
 the water. At 245 x 68 cm (98 x 27 in), it's the longest of the three 
boards and is aimed at giving the user control for turning. It has a top
 speed of 71 km/h (44 mph) and will cost €3300 ($4485).</span><br />
<div class="article_img" style="height: 289px; width: 530px;">
<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/aquila-electric-surfboard/32830/pictures#4" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="The boards have an average battery life of about 20 minutes" src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/aquila-surf-10.jpg" width="530" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Aimed at freestyle riders, the Blade is the smallest and lightest of 
the three Aquila boards and is designed to provide optimal 
maneuverability. It measures 185 x 60 cm (73 x 24 in), weighs 18 kg and 
has a top speed of 53 km/h (33 mph). It is to be priced at €2900 
($3942).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"Most of our team does or has done some watersports and we are very 
conscious that each person needs a different board," says Benguría. "We 
have developed a system that fits easily on different configurations and
 this way we are able to produce boards for different programs and 
different riders."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The video below shows the Aquila Carver in action.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Product page: <a href="http://aquilasurf.com/en/" target="_blank">Aqulia</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="298" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fExvAtgiF4o" width="530"></iframe></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">source-<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/aquila-electric-surfboard/32830/" target="_blank">gizmag</a></span></div>

Aquila electric surfboards promise high-speed cruising, carving and freestyling

While they may not yet be a common sight on the world's beaches, powered surfboards have been cropping up on a fairly regular basis ...