Understanding Throttle, Power Usage & Battery Run TimeUpdated an hour ago

To maximise run time, system performance and battery life, it is important to understand the relationship between throttle input, motor thrust and the speed you gain on the water.

The more throttle you use, the more power the motor consumes. However, increasing throttle does not always result in a proportional increase in surface speed, particularly once board drag becomes the limiting factor.

Throttle & Run Time

30% Throttle

At around 30% throttle, the Foil Drive can provide a speed faster than typical paddling while using relatively little battery power.

This is useful when traversing or moving around the lineup and you are not in a hurry. Using a lower throttle setting can significantly extend your session time.

40% Throttle – Common

Around 40% throttle provides a comfortable speed that is faster than normal paddling.

This is a common setting for returning to the lineup efficiently without using excessive battery power.

50% Throttle

At 50% throttle, you can achieve approximately twice the speed of typical paddling, providing a noticeable increase in surface speed.

However, power consumption increases significantly as throttle rises, reducing overall run time.

Above 50% Throttle

Above 50% throttle, the additional power does not always translate into significantly more surface speed.

For riders above approximately 70 kg, board drag can become the limiting factor when traversing. Increasing throttle beyond this point may create larger bow waves and consume considerably more battery without providing a meaningful increase in speed.

More throttle does not always mean more speed.

70–80% Throttle

This range can be useful when you need additional power for:

• Making fast corrections
• Changing direction
• Positioning for a wave
• Maintaining speed while e-foiling
• Situations where 100% throttle would be unnecessarily aggressive

It provides additional acceleration without immediately using maximum power.

Above 80% Throttle

High throttle is primarily useful for catching waves and getting onto foil.

Make Your Battery Last Longer

For maximum session time:

Use low throttle to move around, and save high throttle for when you actually need it.

A typical surf session may involve travelling around the lineup at 30–40% throttle, then using a short burst of high power to catch a wave. Once you're on foil, reduce or release the throttle and allow the foil and wave to do the work.

This approach provides a good balance between speed, battery consumption and overall session time.

Downwind & Wing Sessions

Run time can be considerably different when down winding or winging.

A proficient rider may use significantly less motor power because the wind, swell and wave energy provide much of the forward momentum.

As a result, it is unlikely that an experienced rider will use a full battery during a typical downwind or winging session.

Key Takeaway

Throttle management is one of the easiest ways to extend your Foil Drive session.

Use lower throttle settings for efficient travel and repositioning, and reserve high throttle or 100% power for short, purposeful bursts such as catching waves and getting onto foil.

The goal isn't to use less power all the time — it's to use the right amount of power for the job.