The Burgos KAT is a solar-powered electric passenger catamaran operating on the River Ebro in Spain's Montes Obarenes Natural Park. It is powered by two Fischer Panda electric shaft drives, each delivering 20 kW at 48 volts. The vessel runs fully emission-free, requires no fuel logistics and operates autonomously on solar energy throughout the day.
Technology that holds back so nature can lead.
Emission-Free River Tourism in a Natural Paradise
A solar-powered electric catamaran glides silently through Spain's Montes Obarenes Natural Park in the province of Burgos. No engine noise. No exhaust. No wake turbulence. Just water, wildlife and an experience guests remember, powered by Fischer Panda electric boat drives.
For anyone considering an electric propulsion system for passenger vessels or river tourism boats, this project shows what sustainable water tourism looks like in practice: technically reliable, economically viable and fully emission-free.
A Decision Made for Nature and for Business
The operators of this electric passenger catamaran in Burgos asked themselves a question that every charter entrepreneur faces sooner or later: what does our operation leave behind?
The answer was clear from day one. Operating inside a protected natural zone meant strict environmental requirements, but the team went further than compliance. They chose a fully electric boat propulsion system not as a compromise, but as a long-term investment with purpose.
The result is a vessel that meets regulatory requirements, protects the river ecosystem and delivers a guest experience that stands out precisely because it does not rely on spectacle. Silent travel through protected landscapes is the attraction.
Water-Cooled, Low-Maintenance and Built to Last
The electric motors are installed directly in the hull, housed in a double-walled, water-cooled aluminium casing with an integrated thrust bearing. No oil is required for cooling. There is no gearbox. That is a clear advantage in daily commercial operation: fewer components, less maintenance, more reliability.
System integration runs via CAN-Bus. The result is an electric drive system that performs powerfully while staying in the background. Quiet, efficient and dependable. Exactly what a commercial passenger boat operation needs.
Two Fischer Panda Electric Shaft Drives. One Reliable System.
At the heart of this electric catamaran are two Fischer Panda electric shaft drives, one per hull. Each unit delivers 20 kW at 48 volts, generating 160 Nm of torque at 1,200 rpm through permanent magnet technology. Quiet, vibration-free and immediately responsive. Full torque at the propeller shaft from the first moment of operation.
At just 58 kg per unit, the drives are compact enough for seamless hull integration while delivering the performance a daily commercial river boat operation demands. A team that knows their vessel. A system they can rely on completely.
A Restaurant as Home Port
All tours start and end at the Bar Restaurante Embarcadero, located directly on the River Ebro in Burgos. Owned by the same family who operates the electric catamaran, the restaurant is more than a popular dining spot. It is the heart of the project.
From here, passengers begin a silent journey through protected river landscapes in northern Spain. No engine noise. No exhaust. No waves. The experience speaks for itself precisely because it does not need spectacle to be memorable.
Silent Operation. Visible Impact.
With its silent electric operation, the emission-free catamaran avoids propeller turbulence that could disturb sediment layers and shorelines. Nesting birds, otters and amphibians remain undisturbed. Moving through the river becomes an act of active habitat protection.
The effect on guests is equally striking. The system runs so quietly that the captain intentionally leaves fenders in the water so passengers can hear at least the gentle splash of water against the hull.
The solar panels spark conversations. Guests ask where the electricity comes from. That question opens a dialogue about sustainable energy and electric mobility on water that no brochure could start.
Technology that disappears into the background creates experiences that stay with people.
One System. One Responsibility. One Fischer Panda.
The full system architecture of this emission-free river boat was co-developed with integration partner Omega Grey. From Fischer Panda electric drives and battery integration to photovoltaic components, all elements were engineered to work as a single, smart unit.
Forty solar panels charge a 60 kWh battery bank from MG Energy. Shore power is rarely needed. No fuel logistics. No grid dependency. Minimal maintenance. The self-sufficient design of this electric passenger vessel saves not only emissions but also operating costs over its entire lifetime.
This is what ONE FISCHER PANDA means in practice: not just a component supplier, but a system partner who takes responsibility for the complete electric boat solution, in development, in integration and in long-term support.
A Gateway to Nature That Leaves Nothing Behind
The River Ebro remains a living experience without leaving traces. This electric catamaran in Spain proves that sustainable river tourism is possible when technology supports rather than dominates the environment.
Two Fischer Panda electric shaft drives provide the necessary propulsion. Silent, emission-free and tailored to the region. Choosing this electric boat system was not an experiment. It was a statement. For guests who travel with respect. For operators who take responsibility seriously. For regions that seek new paths.
Technology can take a step back when it is built right. That is when it makes the strongest impact.
Ready to go emission-free. Wherever you operate.
Find your local dealer
An electric catamaran in Spain shows how emission free tourism works using integrated technology from Fischer Panda.
A Panda PMS 4500 generator ensured reliable power during the ARC rally from Gran Canaria to the Caribbean.
A 17 metre catamaran in Florida uses two 100 kW Fischer Panda drives, solar power and a hybrid energy setup for cruising.
Hybrid efficiency on board. This vessel combines diesel and electric propulsion for flexible, quiet and efficient operation.
Built in 1952, Romandie I is Switzerland's first electric nostalgic charter ship and now runs quietly with Fischer Panda power.
This elegant Pegasus 50 yacht features a quiet electric drive with two 20 kW pod motors for smooth and silent sailing.