Mercury Racing hosted Princeton University’s Princeton Electric Speedboating (PES) team for a week of on-water testing at its legendary Lake X facility in Florida. The March test session brought Princeton’s cutting-edge electric hydroplane program to one of the most storied high-performance marine proving grounds in the world.
PES’s new custom hydro, Eagle 1, is a 16.5-foot all-electric hydroplane designed and built by PES in conjunction with JW Myers from Black Sheep Racing. Underneath the carbon fiber decks spanning the entirety of the 7.5-foot wide vessel, the system consists of two battery modules; each rated at 356.4 V nominal (388.8 V maximum). Eagle 1 is equipped with a safety system that utilizes system status indicator lights for the high-voltage and low-voltage systems, emergency stops, a seven-point harness system, air tank, and a deployable airbag to ensure the safety of the driver and divers while testing at Lake X. The powertrain is designed to reach over 300 HP and sustain speeds upwards of 145 mph for up to one minute while driven by John Peeters. The test session with Mercury successfully represented the vessel’s first operations at these target speeds. The Electric Kilo Hydro represented a new generation of competitive hydroplane design, evolving from previous platforms with the integration of advanced electric propulsion systems and a modified Mercury Racing SSM4 gearcase.
“Lake X has always been a place where new ideas are put to the test,” said Mercury Racing Development Engineering Manager Chris Jenks. “Partnering with Princeton University on their Electric Kilo Hydro program was a great example of how academic innovation and high-performance marine engineering can come together. We were excited to provide a controlled environment where their team could gather meaningful data and continue pushing the boundaries of electric propulsion.”
Evan Callas, President of Princeton Electric Speedboating, called testing at Lake X a major milestone and honor for the program. "It gave us a rare opportunity to validate our electric propulsion system in a world-class environment while pushing performance limits and collecting critical data as we prepare for our next world record attempt later this year," he said.
Jenks said that programs like this demonstrate how the future of marine performance will be shaped by collaboration “Whether it’s electric propulsion, new materials, or advanced control systems, bringing together university research and industry experience benefit everyone involved," he added.
Lake X provided a controlled environment with on-site safety, rescue and technical support, helping Princeton refine data and prepare for its next record attempt.
Safety remained a priority, with protocols tailored for electric race boats and supported by experienced rescue divers Dakota James and Shawn Steinert, widely recognized for their work in U.S. Offshore racing events.
APBA President Kurt Romberg was also on site, bringing additional expertise from his background in NASCAR aerodynamics and participated in a test session during the week. “Electric propulsion is pushing the sport into a new era, requiring safety and performance to evolve together,” he said. This week at Lake X showed how the next chapter of powerboat racing is being built, through engineering, testing discipline, and strong safety leadership.”
To learn more about the Electric Kilo Hydro, visit: https://www.princetonelectricspeedboating.com/