Chen Siqi

vankochensq@163.com

THE Dasha River buzzed with excitement yesterday as a smart boat experience took place at Rowing Plaza, drawing crowds of adults and children eager to try the latest innovations in intelligent water sports.

The event, the InnoX eYacht Showcase, was organized by the Shenzhen InnoX Academy, a local tech incubator. Five startups, incubated by or partnered with the academy, showcased their latest innovations, including a smart hydrofoil craft, an electric jet ski, an electric surfboard, an autonomous cleaner boat, and an electric outboard motor.

One standout was the ANAVI electric jet ski. “It can reach very high speeds and is very powerful thanks to electricity; there is no smell of gas. I like it a lot,” commented Eledir Busanello, a Brazilian expat, after her test ride.

Developed by ANAVI, the jet ski offers a clean, emissions-free alternative to traditional watercraft. With a two-hour runtime per charge, it has already attracted pre-orders, of which 80% are from the U.S. and Europe. Since its launch last May, the company has secured angel investment and plans to deliver its first batch of products by July 2026.

Y-H2O also showcased its hydrofoil craft. “The key advantages are energy efficiency and stability — it significantly reduces motion sickness,” explained Zhang Shibin, Y-H2O’s product manager. The craft uses fluid dynamics principles to lift the hull above the water, cutting drag and doubling its range compared to traditional boats with the same power capacity.

Busanello, sharing her experience, said, “It’s very smooth, like taking an airplane! When it makes a turn, I could not even feel the turning.”

Meanwhile, ePropulsion, a company specializing in electric marine propulsion, displayed its electric outboard motor. “We’ve spent three years advancing from basic electrification to fully integrated systems — battery, motor, and control — and now to AI-driven unmanned solutions,” said Fan Ming, ePropulsion’s marketing director. “Our technology spans tourist boats, jet skis, sports gear, public water services, and urban transport.”

With Shenzhen’s push to grow its marine economy, the city has become a hotspot for marine innovation, attracting both startups and established companies. The Shenzhen InnoX Academy is leveraging these initiatives to accelerate smart hardware adoption in marine technology.