Picture yourself starting your workday with a refreshing boat commute. And what if you could glide to your office on a seaglider?
In a bold move, a pioneering startup is gearing up to introduce these exciting commuting options to South Florida residents, all within the next decade.
Based in Rhode Island, Regent has joined forces with Surf Air Mobility to establish a local hub for their electric seaglider operation. These cutting-edge vessels boast a remarkable range of 180 miles per journey, connecting bustling hubs like Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, and even the Caribbean.
Their mission is clear: to provide eco-conscious travel alternatives to coastal communities across the United States, beginning with the Sunshine State. Regent’s co-founder and CEO, Billy Thalheimer, envisions a comprehensive network of affordable, high-speed water transport, rivaling the convenience of high-speed trains.
Thalheimer believes that the cost of a seaglider trip will be roughly half that of a comparable plane ticket, although precise pricing details are yet to be revealed.
Regent’s electric seaglider is a marriage of boat and aircraft. It begins its journey floating gracefully at docks and harbors, but as it gains momentum, the hull elegantly rises out of the water, reducing resistance and allowing for swifter travel on open water.
Their inaugural seaglider model, currently in development, will accommodate 12 passengers. Thalheimer anticipates that these vehicles will be carrying commuters as early as 2025. Moreover, the company has grand plans to unveil larger vessels capable of hosting up to 100 passengers by 2030. With ongoing advancements in battery technology, travel distances are expected to expand, potentially covering routes of 400 to 500 miles within this decade.
This visionary concept has ignited the interest of investors. Regent recently secured an impressive $60 million in funding to develop and test a proof of concept for their seaglider prototype. Leading this funding round are 8090 Industries and the renowned venture capital firm Founders Fund, headed by Peter Thiel. Remarkably, the startup has already received nearly 500 orders from commercial customers spanning six continents.
Regent envisions that their Miami-based seaglider operation could potentially transport up to 1.5 million passengers annually. They are planning to establish transportation hubs in high-traffic areas such as Miami International Airport and PortMiami. Beyond Florida, the company harbors aspirations to expand their seaglider services to other picturesque coastal regions across the United States, including New England, California, and the captivating shores of Hawaii.
