Forza X1 F-22 Electric Center Console: An Intimate First Look
There is something truly special about the Forza X1 F-22 electric boat and more importantly the company behind it.
We've all seen electric boats at all the shows lately, and it's definitely something that the industry is excited about. But I don't think any team is more excited than the Twin Vee and Forza family - and with good reason. Having had the opportunity to actually drive the Forza X1 F-22 center console prototype myself last month—and with the recent launch of the dual console model prototype—I can honestly say there is something truly special about this boat brand and more importantly—the people behind it.
The Forza X1 F-22
Before touring the Forza X1 F-22, I wasn't too familiar with the electric boat market myself. But I will say that a lot of them I've seen look super modern, sleek, and slightly "other worldly," which don't get me wrong, is a total vibe and certainly gets a fair amount of media attention. However, the F-22 looks like a cool, sporty, fast, yet actually usable and livable boat. It's relatable. It's family friendly. More like something people could actually drive and get out in the water with every single weekend, and less like some type of new age science experiment. I had the pleasure of driving the first prototype and have to say besides the lack of noise, it really did drive just like a traditional gas powered center console. This boat is fun.
Engines And Performance
Forza's 180HP outboard motor was designed, tested, and manufactured in-house by Forza's team of engineers and has a running time of up to 5 hours, and a max speed of about 40mph. The 22 foot center console has all of the goodies that the Twin Vee family knows a boater would want - everything from a 26 gallon live well to the rod holders, coolers, extra storage, swim platform and plush bow seating.
Battery Power
Obviously battery power is one of the biggest challenges in the development of electric motors, and the engineering team at Forza specifically created the Proliance intelligent battery to withstand demanding usage, ensuring reliability and longevity. With integrated cooling systems, fast charging capabilities, and advanced battery management systems, the battery provides the safe and dependable power you need for extended days on the water. The current Forza X1 22 model has 104KWH battery pack.
Range
Is the F-22 built with the intent to cross the Atlantic? No. But as far as your adventurous Saturday boat day, she'll do just fine. Forza says the boat has a range of 32 miles at 15 MPH, or 27 miles at 25 MPH, before needing to recharge (which takes approximately 4-6 hours).
Why Electric, Though?
Obviously the main attraction of an electric motor is that it keeps our precious oceans and lakes clean, and reduces our carbon footprint. Whenever I start talking about electric boats, there are always a few things people seem the most worried or curious about. Backup power/battery life being a major concern - and with good reason. Nobody wants to get stranded out in the middle of the ocean in a hail storm, though people sometimes forget that it can certainly happen on any type of boat (I can tell you firsthand, it's not fun in a gas powered boat, either).
Five hours of running time is more than enough for a traditional family boat day out to the sandbar or exploring the terrain - catch a few fish or a few rays, troll along the waterways, maybe stop at your favorite boat-up bar for lunch. At any marina where you might want to top off your tank, you can find shore power if you end up needing a recharge. My sea trial with the prototype was at least 3 hours of tooling around at 20 -25 knots in the ICW and we had plenty of battery left by the time we pulled back into the boat ramp.
At The Helm
Additionally, through a collaboration with industry leader Garmin, Forza has brought forth the next generation of helm technology, which includes touchscreen controls and cutting-edge range optimization features to help you track battery power and plan accordingly.
Price Tag And Operational Costs
What about the costs? Many of the attendees at the Forza press event earlier this month wanted to know the costs of charging the batteries - is it really cheaper than gas? I mean, I had to assume these people don't fill up their cars/boats with gas themselves, or at least maybe they are not the ones that are stuck with the bill? With many states offering electricity cheaper in the evening hours, an overnight charge of a completely empty proliance battery pack can cost as little as $15. Forza is continuing to develop rapid charging technology as well. Their target selling price for the Forza X1 22 Center Console is $120K, which admittedly is a good chunk of change but in the luxurious world of boating, for a boat of this size and capability, is extremely competitive and reasonable.
The Future of Forza
There's just something raw, honest, and actually kind of lovable about the family style team behind Forza Electric. I had a hunch about it all along, but my opinion was solidified during their press presentation earlier this month when they started the whole thing off with pictures of president Joseph Visconti crashing prototype after prototype into the riverbanks, and video after video of them trying to get the motor to start on the water with absolutely zero success. They don't try to hide their struggles or try to be super cool and flashy. I think that makes the team relatable, and in turn is what has enabled them to build a very relatable electric boat for the market. Their small team seems to get along well and support each other, and when that type of teamwork is coupled with an impressive investment size, big things can happen. It will be exciting to see the next steps for the Forza Electric brand.
