An eFoil, or electric hydrofoil board, is a battery-powered surfboard that uses an electric motor and underwater hydrofoil to lift the board above the surface of the water.

Unlike a conventional surfboard, an eFoil does not require waves. Once it reaches enough speed, the hydrofoil generates lift and raises the board above the water, creating a smooth, quiet and remarkably efficient ride.

With the right eFoil configuration and weather conditions people learn the basics of eFoiling quite quickly. Most can foil on their knees within 20 minutes, and many can foil standing up within the first one to two hours of learning, especially if guided by a trainer in an Aerofoils Academy or Fliteschool lesson.

Mastering an eFoil, especially with more advanced wings, carving at speed, rough conditions, or riding unpowered in waves does take time and practice.

EFoils are classified as novel vessels in New Zealand and can be used recreationally without any Maritime New Zealand registration or licensing. Personal flotation devices are not currently required but are recommended when riding alone, in rough conditions, or far from shore.

EFoil riders must follow the same maritime laws as for boats in New Zealand, so are only allowed up to 5 knot (9 km/h) with 200 metres of shore, a structure or diver flag, or within 50 metres of another vessel or person in the water. Regional councils and harbourmasters may impose additional bylaws in specific areas.

Efoiling can be a safe and enjoyable water sport when the equipment is used correctly and the rider follows appropriate safety procedures. EFoiling is an adventure activity so there are always some risks to mitigate.

All water sport activities require care, ensuring adequate flotation, avoiding hypothermia and sunstroke, being aware of the weather conditions, carrying a means of communication if traveling far from shore, monitoring battery levels, keeping aware of other water users, debris and submerged objects, and avoiding fishing lines and nets (which can get quickly tangled around the propulsion and damage waterproof seals).

Falls from the board are expected, especially while learning, and its important to learn to fall away from the board. Falling directly onto the board can cause bruising and falling onto the edge of a wing can cause a deep cut – always fall on the opposite side to the mast if the board is tipping sideways. The motor disengages when the remote hits the water so it never races off far without the rider.

EFoils with jet propulsion have enclosed impellers so there are no exposed rotating blades, whereas eFoils with open propellers should be used with a prop guard by learner to avoid mistakenly touching the blades while armed.

Although most riders foil casually around 20-25 km/h some eFoils can go in excess of 50 km/h giving little time to react, and hitting the water at speed can hurt. Helmets are recommended for learning, in rough conditions or when riding at speed, and ear pads help protect the ear drum.

EFoil manufacturers offer different battery options, so riders can trade battery capacity and range against weight and cost. Depending on rider weight, speed and wing choice the largest battery options allow up to around two hours ride time, less for heavier riders or higher speeds. That corresponds to around 40 km range, impressive for an electric vessel on the water as the foil creates very little drag.

The hand-held controllers of all the premium brands clearly indicate the remaining charge and alert the rider to return to shore as the battery gets low.

Beginners often splash around in the water while learning, so initially can expect to get less range. Plowing the eFoil through the water uses about double the power compared to when its planing on the surface, which is again about double the power compared to when up on the foil.

The premium brands all use quality battery cells (why they are expensive) which should provide many years of use provided the battery is cared for. Always wipe off any salt water splashes, check the terminals for corrosion and ideally store batteries longer term at between 30-50% of their capacity, promptly recharge if near 0% and ideally not storing at 100% long term. We have an article on how to properly care for the lithium-ion battery in your PEV.

EFoils vary a lot in price, mostly determined by the composition of the board (inflatable, fibreglass, or carbon fibre), the battery size, and charger speed. An entry-level Flite AIR PRO starts at NZ$16,884, whereas a carbon Aerofoils Performance or Fliteboard PRO are around NZ$25,000-$30,000.

Premium carbon eFoils have a similar initial purchase price to an entry-level jet ski (excl trailer and fuel costs). While jet skis are initially thrilling, good for towing, carrying a passenger or short burst of fun, eFoils provide years of enjoyment and evolving challenges, are very portable and have minimal impact on the environment.

EFoils are a significant financial investment, and there are many choices to be made depending on the intended use, range of potential riders, and budget. At Atomic EV we’re always happy to help guide the process.

For those on a tight budget consider an inflatable board option, whereas carbon boards are worth the additional expense when budgets allow.

For most riders we generally recommend starting with an intermediate size board size, such as the Aerofoils Performance, Flite PRO or Flite AIR PRO. Larger boards are great for heavier riders or a first experience but many riders quickly progress to intermediate size boards, which are more portable, lighter, and have less swing weight.

The wing choice is very important as it greatly affects the ride experience. Most brands have a default wing option that is suitable for most riders, but some suggest wings that riders will quickly progress beyond.

We have an article which describes in depth how to choose the right eFoil. We also have an article discussing which is the best eFoil brand.

One note of caution. Developing an eFoil that will reliably continue to operate for many years requires a manufacturer with a lot of experience and investment. There are numerous startup companies who either imitate designs of the reputable companies or make promises of upcoming boards and wild claims about having the best boards at budget prices. Almost always after making sales they then go bankrupt leaving existing customers with defective and unserviceable products, and simply start up a new water sports company to take money from more unsuspecting customers.

Unlike jet skis, electric surfboards, and most other personal water craft, eFoils are highly configurable. Individual components can be swapped out without having to purchase a new eFoil, changing the experience as riding progresses.

Changing the wing and stabiliser, or even adding a shim to the stabiliser, can completely change the ride experience. There are wings options for beginners, for riding at high speeds, for looser carving, and for gliding unpowered on waves. It is important to choose an eFoil brand that offers a good range of wing options.

Boards can be upgraded, with smaller carbon boards preferred by more advanced riders. The propulsion can also be changed, swapping a prop to a folding prop to catch waves, or swapping the impeller in a jet for more low end thrust.

We have many customers who ride their eFoils every week, some almost daily, for many years without ever getting bored. Riding an eFoil is a unique experience that can’t be replicated through any other sport.

The Flite ULTRA L3 is a very popular choice for those that want to catch wave after wave unpowered, and mostly use the motor to quickly get to the next wave. It is particularly popular with the Marc Newson Carbon Wave mast, a FLUX wing, and the Nano Flitecell.

For foilers who don’t want the weight of an eFoil but still want to be able to ride in most conditions there is the FLITELab* AMP range. The AMP is a small or medium foil board that has a removable jet motor, and hands-free configurable launch pad to provide a boost to help get on the foil or provide paddle assist.

If that’s still too much then for experienced foilers we also offer the unpowered FLITELab* RAW range.

For anyone who wants to cycle on the water there are the New Zealand designed Manta5 hydrofoiler bikes with configurable pedal assist.

Atomic EV is the largest eFoil retailer in New Zealand and the South Pacific islands and the authorised distributor for Aerofoils, Flite, and FLITELab*, all which we import directly from the manufacturer. We know our products as we are avid riders too and organise many eFoil events for the community.

We match the international prices for our brands, so you won’t be paying any additional hidden fees, nor are there hidden discounts for mates which are paid for by other customers. Being a New Zealand registered company ensures customers are protected under the Consumer Guarantees Act, and when you contact us you know you’ll be able to reach us quickly.

For any products not in stock but available on back order we purchase the products from the manufacturer and pay shipping costs as soon as we receive payment from the customer. We also notify the manufacturer which customer has made the purchase to ensure there is no confusion.

Atomic EV is also the authorised warranty and service centre for all our brands and holds stock of most OEM parts to ensure we get our customers back on the water quickly. People who instead purchase elsewhere must first contact their reseller, then communicate with the overseas manufacturer to attempt remote diagnostics of the issue and order warranty parts, only to then have the issue eventually then referred to us for repair after weeks of back-and-forth.