Driverless vehicle pioneer turns attention to the high seas

Not content with driverless pods and electric road sweepers, autonomous vehicle pioneer Westfield is turning its attention to the marine leisure sector.

The Black Country manufacturer is teaming up with Coventry-based Potenza Technology to collaborate on a twin drive all-electric jet ski.

The two organisations aim to improve hydrodynamic efficiency and provide a vehicle which has enhanced safety, lower emissions and decreased noise pollution.

The collaborators also aim to apply the technology wider than just jet skis to other marine vessels, further improving energy efficiency, reducing C02 and other emissions and improving air quality.

Julian Turner, CEO, Westfield, said: “We look forward to seeing where this research takes us. The potential to develop the technology to produce electrified vessels that have low audible noise and thermal footprint is huge.”

The project aims to eliminate 10 tonnes of carbon each year from jet skis, compared to the equivalent internal combustion system.

Westfield Autonomous Vehicles is a subsidiary of Kingswinford-based Westfield Sports Cars. The firm’s driverless pods have already driven more than 3.6 million passengers in excel of 5.6m km and are set to be exported to South Korea as part of a £30m trade deal.

Potenza Technology is a leading firm in the field of electric and hybrid electric vehicle systems, specialising in battery management systems, systems integration and control, and safety engineering. Founded in 1999, the company also traces its origins to the West Midlands’ automotive industry having been formed from the Rover Group Hybrid and Electric research department.