EV Boats: What's New in E1's 2026 Championship?
E1 Series' 2026 electric boat racing Championship has begun and Team Brady are pushing for a third title in a row.
The first race of the year on the Red Sea in Jeddah began with the team securing pole position and finishing second.
"We’re heading into this season with confidence, but also with the understanding that things can change quickly in this sport, tactics will evolve and success will come down to being the fastest to adapt," say Ben King and Joe Sturdy, Team Brady's Co-Team Principals.
"With new teams, new locations and a new qualifying format, it’s exciting to be part of a championship that’s growing and it will be great to see more fans and partners coming into the sport. The challenge is only getting bigger, and we can’t wait to get started."
Want to hear more from Ben and Joe? Learn about the future of EVs across water, land and air at Sustainability LIVE: The Net Zero Summit 2026.
History of the E1 Series
The E1 Series was created by Formula E and Extreme H founder Alejandro Agag and former F1 engineer Rodi Basso.
It was announced in 2020 and testing of the RaceBird boat began in 2022.
This boat is designed by SeaBird Technologies and manufactured by Victory Marine, with an electric powertrain developed by Mercury Racing and rechargeable batteries from Kreisel Electric.
The inaugural season took place in 2024 with nine teams and 18 pilots across five rounds.
The second season in 2025 saw the addition of a new team led by LeBron James and two more races.
In 2026, the calendar has eight events from Nigeria to the US and Team Brady is hoping to achieve its third championship win.
Sam Coleman, a pilot for Team Brady, says: “I’m incredibly proud to be part of making Team Brady successful on the water.
"We are extremely motivated to fight for another Champions of the Water title and go for the three-peat.”
All EV leaders should attend:
- Sustainability LIVE: The Net Zero Summit, featuring EV LIVE - QEII Centre, London, 4-5 March 2026
- Sustainability LIVE: The US Summit - Navy Pier, Chicago, 21-22 April 2026
Co-located with Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE, these events bring together Chief Sustainability Officers, Chief Procurement Officers and senior decision-makers to discuss the strategies building the future.
Book your tickets online today with group discounts available
EVs on the water
Like founder Alejandro Agag's other series, E1 hopes to prove that EVs are just as capable of extreme performance as ICEs.
EVs have a long history on the water and to reduce emissions and reliance on fossil fuels, they may be coming back into favour.
In 1882, Anthony Reckenzaun launched the Electricity, one of the first significant electric boats.
By the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, 55 electric launches ferried more than a million passengers.
Gasoline engines at the time were unreliable, prone to exploding and difficult to start.
Around 1910, the electric starter and mass-produced gasoline changed everything.
ICE became cheaper, lighter and offered much longer range than the heavy lead-acid batteries of the time.
Since the 2000s and the growth of lithium-ion chemistry, EV boats have been making a comeback.
Many lakes in Europe and some protected waterways in the US have started banning ICE motors due to noise and water pollution.
Companies like Torqeedo and Navier are using battery technology derived from the car industry to increase the speed and range of boats.
Hydrofoils are also being added to models, lifting boat hulls out of the water to reduce friction and achieve longer range.
Company portals
Executives
Ben King
Co-Team Principal
Joe Sturdy
Co-Team Principal