The VonMercier Arosa, a battery-electric sports hovercraft, is an exceptional innovation that combines the agility of a sports car with the versatility of a hovercraft. Michael Mercier, the founder and CEO of VonMercier, has turned his lifelong fascination with hovercraft technology into reality with the creation of the Arosa.
This amphibious vehicle can hover about six inches in the air, allowing it to glide effortlessly over grass, gravel, sand, snow, and water. It relies on the physics of thrust and airflow to lift, accelerate, brake, and travel laterally 360 degrees. Reverse thrust is used to slow the craft on land or stop on water.
In December, VonMercier closed a crowdfunding campaign that raised $111,000 to bring the Arosa to market. The sports hovercraft’s curvy carbon-fiber body resembles a supercar, drawing inspiration from Bugattis, Aston Martins, and a chrome-and-wood concept car from BMW. However, the Arosa generates only 240 electric hp and is not street-legal.
Mercier and industrial design partner Ben Taber spent a decade refining the initial design, which they debuted in 2014 as the Supercraft. The result is a sleek hovercraft with sweeping lines, an aggressive front end, and a rear lower deck large enough for an optional swim ladder.
The first seven customer orders for the Arosa are entering production this month, with deliveries planned for July. The company, based in Havre de Grace, Maryland, has the capacity to build 25 models this year and plans to double production in 2024.
Customers have the option to choose between an 18-kilowatt-hour battery, offering 90 minutes of cruising time or roughly 30 to 40 miles, and a 36-kilowatt-hour battery, which can travel an estimated 80 miles over three hours. Both models can plug into any standard electric-vehicle charger.
The Arosa features an open-top cockpit with a driver’s seat and a passenger seat directly behind it. Its 500-pound payload can accommodate up to three passengers with an optional second-row bench seat. Buyers can also customize interior fabrics, wood and carbon accents, and audio and GPS systems.
The Arosa cruises comfortably at 20 mph, but its top speed is still being ironed out. Mercier estimates it to be around 50 mph, making it the fastest electric amphibious vehicle yet. Its battery-electric powertrain and fan design also make it the quietest hovercraft on the market, according to Mercier.
Mercier has plans to build two more models over the next decade. The Lucerne is similar to the Arosa but will accommodate four to six passengers, while the Olten is designed for first-response and search-and-rescue missions in ice, floodwaters, and mudflats.
Hovercraft technology has existed for decades, but traditional models were noisy and difficult to control. Mercier’s vision with the Arosa is to revolutionize personal hovercrafts by making them more accessible and enjoyable for a wider range of users.
With the Arosa, VonMercier is disrupting the status quo of hovercraft design and control, offering a unique blend of style, performance, and versatility. The Arosa is not just an innovative electric vehicle, but a milestone in the development of personal sports hovercraft technology, bringing the concept of a futuristic, amphibious vehicle closer to reality. As for the pricing, the Arosa is available at $200,000, making it a premium offering in the personal hovercraft market.
Source: VonMercier
