A new test by the maritime startup REGENT Craft has shown that its electric Seagliders can recharge away from traditional ports. This could make it possible to operate in remote coastal areas and military zones.

The test, conducted with Schneider Electric and World4Solar, showed that the vessels could use a mobile off-grid charging system rather than relying on existing electrical networks. REGENT said this proves their distributed charging system works in coastal areas, on islands, and in areas without regular charging stations.

Modular charging system tested in remote setup

The trial combined three main technologies into one charging system: modular battery storage units, robust high-power charging equipment, and a direct current-coupled system that skips the repeated energy conversion stages found in standard alternating current charging setups.

According to REGENT, bypassing those extra conversion steps improved charging efficiency and reliability in remote maritime settings. Schneider Electric also changed its high-power charging hardware to work directly with World4Solar’s modular battery storage platform.

With this system, the Seaglider can recharge without a permanent grid or a developed harbor. The firm believes this could help operators use electric vessels in places where building full charging stations would cost too much or not make sense.

Billy Thalheimer, co-founder and CEO of REGENT, said the successful demonstration highlighted the platform’s flexibility. “How Seagliders can operate beyond traditional infrastructure, supporting both commercial operators and defense missions in the places they’re needed most,” Thalheimer said.

Vehicle flies inches above the water

The Seaglider is not a typical boat or a regular aircraft. REGENT says it flies close to the water’s surface using ground effect, which gives extra lift when a wing moves just above a flat surface.

This concept is similar to the Soviet Ekranoplan vehicles from the 1960s. Instead of moving through the water like a regular boat, the Seaglider flies just above it, which lowers drag and saves energy.

Since the craft flies very low, it gets efficiency benefits that regular aircraft flying higher do not. REGENT has been working on the vehicle for both commercial transport and military uses. The U.S. Navy has already tested the platform in defense mobility studies.

The company thinks Seagliders could be useful for moving passengers along coasts, carrying cargo, and handling fast logistics missions where speed and lower costs matter.

Military sees value in expeditionary operations

REGENT’s latest charging test is also important for the military. Modern expeditionary missions often need mobile power sources to run communications gear, sensors, drones, and electric vehicles in remote places.

Tom Huntley, General Manager of REGENT Defense, explained why this is important in the company’s announcement. “In contested and austere environments, power is a mission-critical resource,” Huntley said, per REGENT’s statement. “The ability for Seagliders to not only operate from distributed locations, but also to bring energy forward to support expeditionary basing, communications, sensors, and other mission systems, creates new flexibility for maritime forces.”

This statement aligns closely with the U.S. Marine Corps Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations strategy, which focuses on small units working across island chains and coastal areas with limited support. Remote military bases often use diesel generators and require fuel deliveries to power them. These supply chains can create weak points and make operations more visible.

Seagliders could become mobile power stations

One key result from the test was the idea that Seagliders could one day carry electricity, not just use it. The company said a hybrid version of the vehicle, equipped with onboard power generation, could deliver energy directly to remote sites. This electricity could help run charging stations, communication relays, unmanned systems, and sensor networks in places without reliable infrastructure.

This would turn the Seaglider into a mobile energy platform. Instead of depending on shore-based support, it could generate its own power once it arrives at remote locations.

The team behind this project shows a trend in defense technology. Instead of working only with traditional military contractors, REGENT partnered with companies that specialize in commercial electrification and renewable energy systems.

The company plans to grow Seaglider infrastructure by starting with commercial ferry and coastal logistics. This will give them experience that could help with bigger defense projects later.