Photo- Von Merciver Hovercraft
Michael Mercier is only 36, but the crafty entrepreneur is bridging the cap between the automotive, the marine, and the entertaining.
Mercier has designed a battery-powered electric personal hovercraft that resembles a luxury car like a Ferrari or Bugatti. Dubbed the Arosa, machine uses a trio of electric motors and operates as a fully functional amphibious vehicle that can travel by both land and sea.
His VonMercier Hovercraft Company is on a flier too, having crowdfunded over $100,000 USD from 185 investors in December 2022 alone to help bring the machine to market.
With the force created by its electric motors, the Arosa hovers 6″ off the ground, allowing it to traverse nearly any terrain from open water, to grass, sand, or snow.
It can cruise at roughly 20 mph (32 km/h), but can peak at over 50 mph (80 km/h) and uses its own unique propulsion and maneuvering system. The ‘wheels’ of the car-themed frame serve as fans for the electric motors, while the maneuvering system uses thrust to push the vehicle ahead or backwards relative to the driver’s input.
The cockpit is nearly identical to a car with a steering wheel and gauges on the dash. The main difference is that the driver is seated in the centre of the unit, while an optional passenger compartment can be included directly behind the driver. The Arosa generates a powerful 240 horsepower, which is likely than enough to generate serious speed with further development, but for now the machine remains illegal for the street.
Mercier told Robb Report, his subscription to Boys’ Life when he was young helped nurture his penchant for entrepreneurship: “It was the kind of magazine where you could get X-ray glasses, sea monkeys—that sort of thing. But there was also a recipe for an air cart where you just needed a round sheet of plywood, an old vacuum cleaner, and a strip of shower curtain material.”
“I was able to put my little sister on it out in the garage and move it around,” Mercier told the publication. “My mind was just blown.”
That early success, coupled with a never-ending intrigue surrounding the physics of flying, kept Mercier involved in mechanical engineering throughout high school and college.
“The idea for a better hovercraft was always in my head” Mercier told Robb Report. “It hadn’t caught on like ATVs or Jet Skis. The idea of personal hovercraft got left behind.”
Maybe the time is now.
The Arosa isn’t exactly cheap with a $200,000 expected price tag, but name another vehicle that can serve as a boat, a car, and an all-terrain vehicle in one platform (that isn’t a military toy).
Despite the price tag, orders are already coming in. Mercier and his company already have seven customer orders to fulfill. The VanMercier Hovercraft HQ in Havre de Grace, Maryland, claims they can currently build about 25 units per year but are already looking to expand.
There’s a fair bit of customization available too, which seems fair if you’re on the hook for a $200k hovercraft. Prospective owners can choose from two different battery types depending on their intended usage. One option is an 18 kW battery with a range of 30-40 miles, or an upgraded 36 kW battery that can cover over 80 miles with a three hour runtime. Both options use a 400 V lithium-ion batteries.
Regardless of your choice, your Arosa can be plugged into the same electric-vehicle (or electric boat) charging stations that are available at gas stations and marinas.
The Arosa also comes with several car-like features like a customizable interior, a digital dash, wood and carbon fiber accents, an audio system, and GPS. It’s also very manageable with an LOA of only 16′ (4.9 m), a width of 7’8″ (2.4 m), and a dry weight of 950-1390 lbs (408-630 kg). Basically, it’s the perfect size for a trailerable dayboat. With the optional rear passenger compartment it can hold up to three passengers and supports a payload of up to 500 lbs for peak performance.
Mercier has plans for the future, too. The burgeoning company is already working on a new larger model called the Lucerne. The beefed-up brother to the Arosa will be built for 4-6 passengers. Another model specifically for first responders and search and rescue is also in development.
Check out the Arosa in action below:
