Riva's 'Carbon-Fiber Boned' Electric 27-Foot Runabout, El-Iseo
Take a look at Riva's first all-electric day boat.
Riva’s First Step Into An All-Electric World: A Classic Runabout
Above: The perfect blend of classic styling and modern boat building techniques and styling. Image via Riva.
El-Iseo, Riva's first all-electric day boat, debuted at boot Düsseldorf, a significant milestone in the company's 180-year Italian yacht legacy. In true Riva signature style, the El-Iseo embraces a classic Italian heritage aesthetic with an elegant metallic-blue low and pointed slipper-shaped hull, a neatly curved windshield, and a vast cockpit fitted with a heritage pinstripe foredeck.
There are characteristic Riva-style finishes, such as polished grainy woods, and lined in a retro-modern blue-and-white upholstery. Its fully digital touchscreen dashboard has taken cues from the analog displays of past boats. The three drive modes, Allegro, Andante, and Adagio, speed tempos of classical music, also nod to timeless Italian tradition.
El-Iseo is an emissions-free, fully electric version of Iseo, with the benefits of cruising on the high seas in a cleaner, quieter manner, and with a more effective acceleration curve than a similarly sized boat powered by an internal combustion engine. Riva recently announced that it is available for sale after being presented in prototype form last September at the Monaco Yacht Show.
Classic Italian runabouts were originally used to find the most secluded spots on the Italian Lakes and provide a gentle and enjoyable journey soaking up the stunning scenery. The modern versions of these lake pleasure boats are also incredibly seaworthy, trailer-towable, and easy to transport from lakes to the ocean.
Above: Riva El-Iseo's chic interiors. Image via Riva.
Performance
El-Iseo is powered by a GVM310 electric engine by Parker Hannifin, a leading US motion and control technology multinational providing a power output of 250 kW and 300 kW at peak. The 27-footer has a cruising speed of 25 knots and can reach speeds of up to 40 knots when full throttle. In economy mode, guests can enjoy up to ten hours of navigation, giving you plenty of time to have a full day of cruising without worrying about charging points.
As graceful in movement as in style, the El-Iseo makes balletic turns when carving through the water, and the Seakeeper stabilization provides a smooth and steady platform even in rogue waves.
It's safe to say that this 27-footer is the ultimate way to travel on the water in style.
Above: A superior version of the classic runarounds scattered all over The Italian Lakes. Image via Riva.
Above: Riva El-Iseo electric motor stored neatly beneath the aft sunlounger. Image via Riva.
To learn more about the history of classic boats, read our guide on our sister site, La Dolce Vita: Classic Italian Boats.
To find out more about electric boats read:
Electric Foiling Day Boats: The Best of 2024
Electric Outboards: The Wave Of The Future
