SeaLab Class · Team Profile

SWISS SOLAR BOAT

🇨🇭 École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Swiss Solar Boat is a student initiative from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), founded in 2019, that unites over 75 students from diverse disciplines.

The team

Meet the team

Swiss Solar Boat is a student initiative from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), founded in 2019, that unites over 75 students from diverse disciplines. After the success of its first prototype, Le Dahu, which achieved a 13 km hydrogen-powered crossing between Lausanne and Évian, the team is now developing a new boat: the REF (Renewable Energy Foiler). This next-generation prototype, powered by both hydrogen and solar energy, aims to push the boundaries of performance. Through this project, Swiss Solar Boat promotes clean technologies in the maritime sector while providing students with a unique opportunity to apply their academic knowledge to real-world challenges and contribute to the future of sustainable mobility.

University

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Country

🇨🇭 Swiss

Based in

Lausanne , Swiss

Class

SeaLab Class

Racing number

N°46

The boat

SWISS SOLAR BOAT

Our project aims to develop a high-performance solar-hydrogen foiling boat designed for efficient, zero-emission navigation. The vessel accommodates one pilot and two passengers, reaches a top speed of 35 knots, and offers a range of 160 km. Its innovation lies in a hybrid hull structure combining okoumé plywood and carbon fibre, reducing manufacturing emissions by 85% compared with conventional composites. The propulsion system integrates the motors directly into the torpedoes, enabling a direct connection to the propellers and minimising mechanical losses. The project aims are to compete in the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge to benchmark our technology against the best zero-emission prototypes and complete a full circumnavigation of Lake Geneva (160 km) to demonstrate real-world reliability, endurance, and energy efficiency.

Top speed

33 knots · ~66 km/h

Capacity

Three seats

Type

Smart hydrofoil

Platform

Y-H2O hydrofoil

Control

Autonomous & self-stabilising

SeaLab Class · 2026

Follow the team at the Challenge

Swiss Solar Boat competes in the SeaLab Class at the 13th Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, 7–11 July 2026 in Port Hercule. Building on Le Dahu and its 13 km hydrogen-powered crossing between Lausanne and Évian, the EPFL team brings REF, its solar-hydrogen foiler, to benchmark against the world’s best zero-emission prototypes. Beyond the Challenge, the team aims to complete a full 160 km circumnavigation of Lake Geneva to prove REF’s reliability, endurance and energy efficiency in real-world conditions.