What’s new in the MAX+

• 43V power system. The MAX+ runs on the new 43-volt FM+ batteries. Higher voltage means much more low-end thrust the moment you pull the trigger, so you can get up on smaller boards and smaller wings. The MAX+ gets the same maximum power setting the Fusion launched with.
• 20 to 25% more ride time compared with a Gen 2 MAX running the HP battery and HP motor. Part of that is the bigger FM+ 650 battery. The rest comes from the higher voltage, which runs more efficiently and keeps takeoff power strong deep into the battery. Testers reported full-strength starts down to the last few percent.
• One-piece battery shell. The FM+ batteries use a full plastic exoskeleton, the same rugged construction as the Fusion’s, built to take years of knocks on the beach and on the dock.
• IMU tilt sensor. The unit can shut itself off automatically once the board passes a set angle of roll or tilt. That’s a real safety upgrade when you crash.
• Built-in anode helps keep the motor and hardware protected and looking new for the long haul.
• Stronger, stiffer keys. The locking keys are twice as thick, so the battery and pod lock together and feel like one solid piece.
• 7 mm titanium split bolts included. The MAX+ uses wider 7 mm slots to fit the Gen 2.5 battery, and every unit ships with the matching Ti split bolts.

MAX+ vs. the original MAX

Line them up and they look almost the same. The MAX+ is the same width, about 2 mm taller (you won’t notice it) and about 10 mm longer. Most of that extra length is in a longer, narrower, more swept tail, which lets water leave the unit more smoothly than the blunter Gen 2 tail. On the top and bottom you’ll also see a new ribbed heat-sink pattern that helps the unit handle the higher power.

With the FM+ 650 fitted, the MAX+ weighs about 800 g more than a Gen 2 MAX with its biggest HP battery. That weight is three extra cells, which buy you the extra power and run time. Riders who struggled to get a small board going on the old MAX said the MAX+ felt like roughly 20% more push, and that extra torque really helps when you catch a rail or stall a turn. One quick burst on the trigger and you’re back up and riding.

MAX+ vs. Fusion: which one?

Both units use the same M7 split bolts, the same chargers and the same app, and both take the FM+ crossover batteries. The difference is size and feel. The Fusion is longer at both ends. The MAX+ packs the same technology into a shorter, more balanced chassis that feels denser and more compact under your feet. That’s why wave riders and downwinders tend to lean toward the MAX+: it keeps the light, surfy feel the original MAX was known for and adds Fusion-class power.

Put simply: if you want the most run time and the most thrust above all else, or you want to use the unit as a full e-foil, go with the Fusion. If you care most about how the board carves, pumps and flies, choose the MAX+. It also costs less than the Fusion, and its batteries cost less than the 860.

Battery options for the MAX+

• FM+ 650: the flagship crossover battery, 43V, available now.
• FM+ 430: a smaller, lighter 43V crossover option, coming soon.

“FM+” stands for Fusion / MAX+. Both batteries fit the MAX+ as-is, and with the FM+ adapter they also fit the Fusion. That makes it easy to share batteries if your household or crew runs both units.

Is the MAX+ right for you?

If you already ride a Gen 2 MAX, the upgrade is obvious: you get noticeably more thrust, more session time and a quicker recovery from a bogged takeoff, with almost the same footprint. If you’re new to foil assist and your riding leans toward winging, parawinging, downwinding or catching bumps and waves, the MAX+ is the unit to start with. As always, the best way to know is to ride one. Ask us about demoing the MAX+ before you buy.

Foil Drive MAX+ FAQ

Does the MAX+ use the same batteries as the original MAX?
No. The MAX+ uses the new 43V FM+ batteries (FM+ 650 now, FM+ 430 coming soon). They’re built on the Gen 2.5 architecture, which is why the MAX+ has wider 7 mm bolt slots.

How much more ride time does the MAX+ get?
About 20 to 25% more than a Gen 2 MAX with the HP battery and HP motor, thanks to the bigger capacity and more efficient higher voltage.

Is the MAX+ as powerful as the Fusion?
It matches the Fusion’s original maximum power setting. Fusion owners are getting a free app update that raises the Fusion’s ceiling even further, so the Fusion stays the most powerful unit in the range.

Can I use MAX+ batteries in a Fusion?
Yes. Both FM+ batteries fit the Fusion with the FM+ adapter.

What about a Slim+?
Foil Drive has confirmed a Slim moving to the Gen 2.5 architecture. It’s waiting on a supply of the battery cells it needs, so it will come later.