An upstart eco-marine company called Navalt has developed a series of solar-powered houseboats that are capable of traveling up to 120 miles on a single charge.
We've discussed the current houseboat revolution before, not to mention our deep dive into the emergence of electric boating and the technological limitations it's trying to overcome.
In essence, houseboats are becoming increasingly popular because they're a practical choice for many boaters, especially those more interested in 'the experience.' They allow for overnighting and multi-day adventures, they move slowly and are easy to operate, and they include more eco-conscious features like solar and electric power than traditional gas-centric options.
That being said, one of the biggest issues facing electric boating is overcoming range anxiety. Electric boats can't yet compete with gas-powered vessels, but they're getting close. There's also a race to develop sufficient charging that would allow electric boats to get the juice they need to perform.
That's why it turns heads when boaters discover that a houseboat exists that's not only solar-powered, it also comes with enough range to make the vessel viable for true adventurers.
Navalt was founded in 2013 and is based in Kochi, India. In a densely populated country like India, sustainable transportation solutions are becoming a focus of governments as they look to reduce emissions and the dependency on combustion engines.
Navalt identifies as India's "most experienced solar electric vessel manufacturer" and its flagship solar-electric ferry, Aditya, helped the company gain widespread acclaim, and several awards, in 2020. Completely powered by solar energy, Aditya can operate for over six hours without recharging. It has also ferried more than 2 million passengers in India, which has saved over 200,000 liters of diesel fuel during its seven years of service.
Then In 2023, the company unveiled Indra, India’s largest solar cruise boat. Spanning over 85 feet and accommodating 100 passengers, Indra can travel 60 miles on a charge, with 25-kilowatt solar panels to extend its range.
Then there's the Nirva, which can go 200 km (124 miles) on a charge, the 120-passenger Vega that can go 225 km (140 miles), and the 12-person Bumblebee that can go 250 km (155 miles) and reach a top speed of 29 mph (46 km/h).
Currently, Navalt operates 29 vessels that on the water, with 34 more set to launch by early 2025. While the company initially focused on public transportation, tourism, and fishing boats, it is now getting into recreational boating.
Enter the Limo, a semi-luxury solar-electric cruise boat that rides a fine line between houseboat lifestyle and commercial applications.
Designed with the capability and dimensions to be a houseboat, it can also serve as a water taxi. With a 12 meter LOA (40 feet) and a 3.6 m beam (11'10"), it sits right in the wheelhouse for most houseboat sizes. It boasts three kWp solar panels on its roof, 40 kWh of stored power, and runs on two electric motors, each pushing 10kW of power at the prop. It has a top speed of 7 knots (8 mph), which is pretty standard for most houseboats. They're made for semi-longterm dockage and anchoring, not racing to the sandbar. The Limo accomplishes that task.
The brochure for the Limo shows it can be configured in several ways, either for commercial use or what they call a 'pleasurecraft' layout. Owners even have their choice of five different kinds of wood accenting, and five choices for interior leather. Houseboats also have a tendency to be more visually striking than cruisers or dayboats, and the Limo delivers in this regard too with several colour schemes like 'Saffron,' 'Celadon Blue,' and 'Claret Maroon.'
If you find that the Limo doesn't quite satisfy your vision for an ultra-modern houseboat, you may also want to consider the Vanora. It ups the ante in every way, from size to design, and carries a slightly bigger LOA of 14.5 m (47'6") with a 4.5 m beam (14'8"). But even with that bigger size, it boasts a longer range (75 km) thanks to two 100 kW electric motors and 200 kW of stored power. Up top are 4 kWp solar panels to generate more juice. The interior is sweet, too, with a much more modern aesthetic and some cool features like a round bed (yes, it's round, not square) and a complete lounge, galley station, and social area surrounding the helm. It's got room for 6 passengers and a top speed of 12 knots (13 mph). Not bad at all.
