• 2014

    ZeroJet’s story begins in 2014 when our co-founders - entrepreneurs and outdoors-enthusiasts Bex and Neil - moved to Perth and opened the world’s first Jetsurf Experience Centre. Through buying, selling and renting out these Czech-made boards, they simultaneously realised a) how big the market was, and b) the negative impact these petrol powered, two-stroke motorised surfboards were having on the environment. During this time Bex made a video which went viral online, and it was further proof that there was an enthusiastic market waiting to be served.

  • 2015

    But Bex and Neil decided to serve up something a bit greener; something to counteract the jetboards’ carbon footprint. So in 2015 they moved back to New Zealand and founded Voltaic Jetboards. After assembling a team of four engineers - all ex-Buckley Systems; a New Zealand success story making electromagnets for particle accelerators - the crew started work on a more environmentally-friendly alternative, and they spent the next two years developing high-performance electric jetboards.

  • 2018

    Fast forward to 2018, the team had carried out significant Research & Development on a bespoke jet pump design paired with electric motor and custom hull design using their hydrodynamic expertise. In other words, they produced a finalised design and a high-performing prototype: the world’s fastest electric jetboard, hitting speeds of 70km/hr.

  • 2019

    With such positive feedback about the impressive performance their electric jetboard was capable of, it was the interest of boat builders that ultimately influenced the team to pivot their business and focus purely on electric jet systems for boats. Although the opportunity was a daunting one, it was also a fantastic chance to make a much greater impact in the world. During this year the first prototype electric jet tender was designed and built - though it actually packed a little too much punch!

  • 2020

    Despite the relative international chaos of 2020, it was a year of exponential growth for Bex, Neil and their team. After rebranding to ZeroJet and raising seed capital from investors, the team grew to 10 and managed to hit a number of key milestones, including: - completed a 3 month Startmate accelerator program - built the world’s lightest electric jet tender - developed a highly efficient jetpod system designed for 3m to 4m boats - formed an ongoing partnership with Offshore Cruising Tenders - launched publicly and started making sales to a very interested marine industry

  • 2021 and beyond

    Alongside the material and technical development journey of ZeroJet, some powerful comparisons have been made to the automotive industry, to gauge the impact of traditional petrol-powered outboard motors on the marine environment. In short, taking one 20hp four-stroke outboard off the water is the equivalent of taking 150 cars off the road - and that’s something we’re striving to have a hand in. Our plans include partnering with more boat builders, expanding internationally, and developing systems for larger 5m and 6m tenders, all working towards our ultimate audacious goal of eliminating the need for combustion engines on small watercraft.