Jaguar Vector Racing Made The World’s Fastest Electric Motorboat

Jaguar’s betting big on electric propulsion. Not only with the new I-Pace, but with its Formula E racing team – and maybe, just maybe, an electric hypercar, too. But now it’s taken its electric powertrain technology out onto the open water. And in the process, it’s set a new world record.

Meet the V20E, an all-electric competition watercraft developed by Jaguar, its offshore motorsport team Vector Racing, and technical partner Williams Advanced Engineering – itself an offshoot of the Formula One racing team.

With Jaguar Vector Racing technical director Peter Dredge at the helm, the V20E averaged a top speed of 88.61 miles per hour, running back and forth over a kilometer-long (3281-foot) stretch of Coniston Water in the English Lake District. That was enough to break the previous record of 76.8 mph that was set a decade ago, and makes the Jaguar Vector V20E the fastest electric boat in the world.

“After 12 months of hard work, this is a fantastic result for the team and our partners and a great first step in bringing the power and versatility of electrification to the marine industry,” said Jaguar Vector Racing chief Malcolm Crease. “It is a great honour for the Vector team to follow in the footsteps of Donald Campbell CBE and to set a world record on the historic Coniston Water.”

The team intends to undertake more world and national records over the course of the next year and a half, so don’t be surprised to see this vessel (and others like it) coming up in the news over the coming months.