- Technology and Innovation
Groupe Beneteau and Fountaine Pajot Target Electrification Standardization with JOOOL
Structuring Elektra Marine
Scaling marine electrification requires transitioning from isolated experimental models toward heavy industrial standardization. Five months after announcing their strategic alliance, Groupe Beneteau and Groupe Fountaine Pajot are structuring their joint operation under the banner of Elektra Marine. The two conglomerates appointed Philippe Hamon as President to lead the venture. Hamon brings three decades of automotive experience, specifically from Valeo, providing the direct industrial background necessary to drive shared platforms and large-scale component standardisation across marine production lines.
Consolidating the JOOOL Brand
The partnership operates commercially under the unified JOOOL brand. This platform consolidates the primary pillars of vessel electrification, encompassing propulsion systems, energy conversion, high and low-voltage storage, and digital energy management interfaces. By utilizing a single, adaptable technical base, JOOOL is engineered to scale across varying vessel sizes and specific use cases without requiring complete system redesigns for each new hull. The architecture is already backed by extensive operational data collected from 44 hybrid sailing yachts currently navigating globally.
Deploying Across the Conglomerates
Elektra Marine is aggressively rolling out the JOOOL architecture across its parent companies. The current deployment strategy covers 14 specific models across eight distinct brands. Groupe Beneteau integrates the technology across four models under the Beneteau, Jeanneau, and Excess banners. Groupe Fountaine Pajot applies the systems to ten models spanning the Fountaine Pajot, Fountaine Pajot Yachts, and Dufour Yachts lines. This cross-brand implementation validates the flexibility of the shared electrical platform.
Opening Architecture to External Builders
The joint venture refuses to isolate the technology within its own shipyards. JOOOL operates as an open platform available directly to the broader marine market. The goal is to provide external shipbuilders with a proven, competitive technical base that eliminates the severe R&D costs associated with developing independent electrification infrastructure. Several external manufacturers have already engaged with the JOOOL system, including Leopard Catamarans, RM Yachts, and Chantier de l’Arsenal.
Remote Diagnostics and Global Service Networks
Maintaining complex electrical architecture across global cruising routes demands robust support infrastructure. JOOOL currently operates 19 dedicated after-sales service points worldwide. To mitigate physical repair delays, the system utilizes embedded connectivity via satellite and cellular networks. This secure gateway allows service teams to remotely monitor system health, analyze performance history, and deploy immediate software updates. When hardware failures allow, technicians can remotely adjust parameters to restore system functionality without requiring a physical on-site intervention.
