REGENT is an electric transportation company pioneering all-electric seagliders for fast, affordable regional mobility. REGENT is developing a new category of maritime vehicle—the seaglider—that combines the speed of aircraft with the operating efficiency of boats, aiming to transform coastal and regional transit.
Their flagship product, the seaglider, is a hydrofoiling, all-electric craft designed to fly just above the water's surface using ground effect aerodynamics. By operating within a wingspan of the water, seagliders can travel twice as far as typical electric aircraft and are regulated by maritime authorities, allowing for a more efficient path to market entry compared to traditional aviation.
REGENT has already demonstrated its technology with a quarter-scale, 400-pound flying model and full-scale wing section, and plans to fly humans on a full-scale prototype by 2024. The initial commercial seaglider will seat 12 passengers, with service targeted for airlines and ferry companies. The company reports $8B in provisional orders, indicating strong demand in the $25B+ initial market for regional transportation.
Founded by MIT-trained, ex-Boeing engineers Billy Thalheimer and Mike Klinker, REGENT is headquartered in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, and has attracted $50M in funding from investors such as Thiel Capital, Founders Fund, Mark Cuban, Y Combinator, and strategic partners including Japan Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines.
The Technology That Enabled REGENT
REGENT’s seaglider technology leverages the ground effect—a phenomenon where an aircraft experiences increased lift and decreased drag when flying close to the surface. The seaglider uses hydrofoils for efficient water takeoff and landing, then transitions to wing-in-ground-effect flight just above the waves. This approach allows for:
- All-electric propulsion for zero-emissions travel
- Significant range improvements compared to battery-electric aircraft
- Reduced regulatory complexity as a maritime vessel
- Lower infrastructure and certification costs versus traditional aviation
Who Uses REGENT & Who Are Their Customers?
REGENT’s primary customers are regional airlines and ferry operators seeking fast, sustainable, and cost-effective coastal transportation. Early partners and strategic investors include Japan Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Mesa Airlines. REGENT’s technology is positioned for markets where conventional ferries or short-haul flights are common, serving both passenger and potential cargo applications.
Competitive Landscape: Companies in Electric Regional Transportation
REGENT operates at the intersection of the electric vehicle, maritime, and regional aviation sectors. Its main competitors and adjacent organizations are largely in the electric regional transit space, focusing on electrification of buses, ferries, and regional mobility systems rather than direct seaglider competitors. Notable organizations and initiatives include:
- CARTA (Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority): Public transit with electric shuttle services.
- ARC (Atlanta Regional Commission): Regional EV planning and emissions reduction.
- Pittsburgh Regional Transit: Battery-electric bus fleet with net-zero goals.
- San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD): Early adopters of battery-electric buses.
- Illinois EPA: Electric transit bus funding initiatives.
- Southeast Electric Transportation Regional Initiative (SETRI): Multisector electric transportation network.
- Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC): Transportation electrification planning.
- San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority: Electric bus programs.
- Valley Regional Transit: Electric buses for lower carbon footprint.
- RTA Chicago (Regional Transportation Authority): Zero-emission transit system plans.
Most competitors focus on land-based electric transportation or public sector initiatives, while REGENT’s unique seaglider technology targets over-water regional routes, offering a distinct market position.
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