Travel

Silent Running in La Serenissima: Venice debuts first all-electric water taxi

Couple on Nauta water taxi

Gliding quietly beneath the bridges of Venice, the city’s newest mode of transport doesn’t sputter or smoke. In fact, you might not hear it coming at all. Meet Lucietta, the first fully electric Venetian water taxi, a sleek, sustainable upgrade to the lagoon’s most iconic ride.

Unveiled at the Salone Nautico di Venezia, Lucietta is a head-turner not just for her elegant silhouette, but for what she represents: a quieter, cleaner, and altogether cooler way to experience the floating city.

Created by energy innovator Repower, in collaboration with yacht designers Nauta and artisanal shipbuilders Cantiere Serenella of Murano, this “native electric” vessel blends old-world romance with cutting-edge tech.

Lucietta is a head-turner not just for her elegant silhouette, but for what she represents…

From gondola to green future

At just over 9m long, Lucietta can carry up to 14 passengers, yet produces zero emissions, no vibrations, and no engine noise. It’s all thanks to a powerful 200 kW electric motor paired with a 180 kWh battery pack, allowing the boat to cruise for an entire workday without recharging, and even hit a top speed of 30 knots if needed.

This isn’t just a new toy for the Biennale crowd (though it will feature at the Venice Film Festival this August). Lucietta was designed with real-world use in mind. Local water taxi drivers were consulted to ensure it met practical needs, so what you see here is no prototype, but a genuine working vessel for the 21st-century canal.

True to her Venetian roots, Lucietta is finished with high-end materials like carbon fibre and recycled Murano glass, courtesy of innovative startup Rehub. Her look is classic with a twist: familiar lines, but infused with future-forward flair.

While it’s easy to be charmed by the design, the goal behind Lucietta is serious: to lead the charge in sustainable tourism. Venice, like many heritage-rich destinations, is grappling with how to protect its legacy while welcoming millions of visitors each year. Lucietta offers one stylish answer.

 The 82nd Venice International Film Festival, La Biennale di Venezia, runs August 27 – September 6, 2025

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About Steve May

Creator of Home Cinema Choice magazine, and Editor of The Luxe Review, Steve muses and reviews for Trusted Reviews, T3, Home Cinema Choice, Games Radar, Good Housekeeping, Louder Sounds, StereoNet and Boat International. He’s also the editor of professional home cinema website Inside CI. He's on Twitter/X, Tiktok and Instagram as @SteveMay_UK