Foil Drive

Foil Drive Max Sport High Power 396 Battery

Regular price £705.00

Pickup currently unavailable at The SUP Co x Lymington

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As for returns; we will happily refund an item purchased from The SUP Company if returned to us within 30 days; excluding gift vouchers and customised products, except when faulty. Returned goods must be unused and supplied in their original packaging, unless the goods are faulty.

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Description

The Foil Drive MAX Sport High Power 396 Battery is one of the most interesting battery options for the Assist MAX system if you care about how your foil feels as much as how long the motor runs. At 396Wh and just 1.85kg, it gives you around 20% more capacity than the original MAX Sport Battery while retaining the shorter, lighter Sport format.

For surf foiling, downwinding, parawinging and wing foiling, that is a useful combination. There is less battery mass hanging from the board than with the full-size MAX High Power battery, helping the setup feel easier to pump, redirect and unweight, while still giving you a meaningful increase in usable runtime over the original Sport battery.

Who does it suit?

We would particularly look at the 396 for experienced riders using Foil Drive as an assist rather than as a conventional eFoil. It makes a lot of sense for surf foil sessions, downwind runs, wing foiling and parawinging where you predominantly need the motor for take-off, recovery or linking sections.

It is also a very good choice for lighter riders and anyone who has found the larger MAX batteries add more swing weight than they would like. If your priority is making an Assist MAX installation feel lively and relatively unobtrusive, this is arguably the sweet spot in the range.

If you rely heavily on continuous motor power or simply want the longest possible sessions, choose the larger Foil Drive MAX High Power 594Wh Battery instead. If your priority is taking Foil Drive on flights, look at the modular Foil Drive MAX Travel Battery.

Expected runtime

Foil Drive quote the following useful guide for the MAX Sport High Power 396:

  • Heavy assist use: approximately 25–40 minutes.
  • Light assist use: approximately 30–55 minutes.
  • Continuous eFoiling: not the recommended use for this battery.

Actual runtime varies considerably with rider weight, foil and board choice, motor position, conditions, temperature, riding style and how frequently you use the throttle. A skilled surf or downwind foiler using short bursts of assistance can achieve a very different session length from someone relying on the motor for repeated powered starts.

MAX battery comparison

Battery Capacity Best for
MAX Sport 332.64Wh Low weight and shorter assist sessions
MAX Travel 356.6Wh Travelling with a modular battery system
MAX Sport High Power 396 396Wh Best balance of low weight, responsiveness and useful runtime
MAX Power 498.69Wh Previous larger-capacity option – discontinued
MAX High Power 594Wh Maximum capacity and demanding Assist MAX use

Specifications

Product Foil Drive MAX Sport High Power 396 Battery
Foil Drive SKU FD286
Rated capacity 10Ah / 396Wh
System voltage 40V
Nominal voltage 39.6V
Maximum voltage 46.2V
Battery weight 1.85kg
Energy density 214Wh/kg
Dimensions 290 x 75 x 40mm
Nose cone Nose Cone B

Compatibility

This battery is designed specifically for the Foil Drive Assist MAX platform and is compatible with Foil Drive 40V Standard and 40V Fast Chargers.

It uses Nose Cone B, the shorter nose cone supplied with compatible Assist MAX kits. The battery is not compatible with the Assist Slim battery system. If you are starting from scratch rather than upgrading an existing system, see the Foil Drive Assist MAX Complete Kit – Gen 2.

What's included?

  • 1 x Foil Drive MAX Sport High Power 396 Battery
  • 1 x Battery cover

Please note: a charger, Assist MAX electronics unit, motor and Nose Cone B are not included with this replacement battery unless specifically stated elsewhere in the product options.

Building a lighter performance MAX setup

The battery is only part of the equation. Riders choosing the Sport 396 because they want less drag and a more responsive setup may also want to consider the Foil Drive Universal Mini Pod, which reduces the size of the universal motor mounting arrangement while retaining the flexibility to move the motor between compatible masts.

You can browse all Foil Drive systems, batteries, motors, remotes and accessories, or read our Foil Assist Explained guide if you are still deciding which system best suits your riding.

Foil Drive Gen 2 system walkthrough

Watch our walkthrough with Dominic Hoskyns for a closer look at the Foil Drive Gen 2 Assist MAX and Assist Slim platforms, how the systems fit together and where each setup makes sense.

Battery care and travel

Foil Drive batteries are lithium batteries and need to be treated accordingly. Use the correct Foil Drive charger, keep connectors clean and dry, inspect the battery and seals before use and follow Foil Drive's current charging, storage and transport guidance. Batteries are normally shipped at a low state of charge for transport, so charge yours correctly before its first session.

At 396Wh this is not the MAX battery we would choose specifically for airline travel. Lithium battery rules vary by airline and route, but passenger limits are typically far below the capacity of this single battery. If travelling by air is important, the Foil Drive MAX Travel Battery is specifically designed around a split, modular format. Always obtain approval from your airline before travelling with any lithium battery.

Frequently asked questions

Is the MAX Sport High Power 396 worth upgrading to from the original MAX Sport?

For many riders, yes. Capacity increases from 332.64Wh to 396Wh – roughly 20% – while retaining the compact Sport format. It is particularly attractive if you like the light feel of the Sport battery but regularly wish you had a little more session time.

Should I buy the 396Wh Sport or the 594Wh MAX High Power battery?

Choose the 396 if board feel, pumping and lower swing weight are high priorities and you mainly use Foil Drive for assistance. Choose the 594Wh MAX High Power battery if maximum capacity, extended motor use and outright system capability matter more than keeping the setup light.

Is this suitable for surf foiling and downwinding?

Yes. Those are two of the strongest use cases for this battery. Its relatively low 1.85kg weight helps preserve the responsive feel of smaller boards while 396Wh gives useful capacity for repeated starts, linking sections and recovery assistance.

Can I use it for eFoiling?

Foil Drive does not recommend the Sport 396 for motor-dominant eFoiling because its capacity is deliberately optimised around weight and responsiveness rather than maximum continuous runtime. It is much better suited to genuine foil-assist use.

Does this fit the Foil Drive Assist Slim?

No. This is an Assist MAX battery. Assist Slim uses its own slimmer battery format.

Which nose cone does it use?

The MAX Sport High Power 396 uses Foil Drive Nose Cone B. This is the smaller nose cone supplied with compatible Assist MAX kits.

Does a charger come with the battery?

No. This replacement battery includes the battery and battery cover. It works with compatible Foil Drive 40V Standard and Fast Chargers.

Can I take the 396Wh battery on an aeroplane?

Do not assume so. Its 396Wh capacity is substantially above the lithium battery limits commonly applied to normal passenger baggage. If flying with your Foil Drive is part of the plan, look at the dedicated MAX Travel Battery and confirm acceptance directly with your airline before travelling.

Need help choosing your Foil Drive battery?

Battery choice makes a surprisingly large difference to how an Assist MAX setup feels. If you tell us your weight, board, foil, motor, usual conditions and whether your priority is surf, downwind, winging or longer powered sessions, we can help you decide whether the Sport 396 or the larger MAX High Power battery is the better match.

You can also visit The SUP Co x Lymington, where we hold the majority of our specialist wing, foil and Foil Drive equipment and can help with complete system setup and compatibility.

Specifications

  • Features

    Why choose the MAX Sport High Power 396?

    • 396Wh capacity: around 20% more energy than the original 332.64Wh MAX Sport Battery.
    • Only 1.85kg: keeps the Assist MAX considerably lighter than running the largest battery options.
    • Compact Sport dimensions: 290 x 75 x 40mm for a shorter, more performance-focused MAX installation.
    • High energy density: 214Wh/kg gives an excellent capacity-to-weight balance.
    • Better for pumping and wave riding: reduced battery mass helps the board feel more natural once you are off the motor.
    • Ideal spare or upgrade battery: particularly worthwhile for riders already using the original MAX Sport battery who want more session time without moving to the much larger 594Wh battery.

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