WORCESTER, Mass. – Worcester engineer Jack Duffy-Protentis and his team tested his prototype for an electric jet ski Friday on Lake Quinsigamond.
Duffy-Protentis is legally blind and said he become interested in recreational vehicles after not being able to drive, but knew they were bad for the environment. He said there are many benefits to his “eSki” prototype.
“For one, there is the environmental aspect,” Duffy-Protentis said. “A jet ski can emit up to 250 pounds of CO2 per hour versus ours, there is no carbon emissions or fuel or oil spills in water, as well as the noise benefit. You won't be annoying your neighbors while you're driving around, and you're not disturbing the wildlife. It's really loud under water with those gas engines and we're completely silent.”
Duffy-Protentis first became involved with robotics in high school and later studied mechanical engineering at WPI.
eSki is currently accepting pre-orders, and Duffy-Protentis hopes to produce 250 units in their first year. He expects to start delivering them to customers in late 2024 or early 2025.