Electric Outboards, The Wave Of The Future?
Captain Heather Francis reviews the top players in the electric outboard market in 2023.
August 12, 2023
Amidst mounting pressure to shift from fossil fuels and reduce global emissions with sustainable energy, the electric future is undeniable. Recent years have witnessed a sharp rise in electric vehicles (EVs) on roads, though challenges like charging infrastructure and technical glitches have emerged. A similar wave of enthusiasm engulfs the marine electric motor sector, as global manufacturers compete to create sleeker, swifter, and more effective designs. But how does the marine electric outboard motor market fare in this landscape? Let's take a deeper look.
Above: A Torqeedo Travel 60 electric outboard motor mounted on a tender for a yacht. Photo via Denison Yachting in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Making Waves: 8 Electric Outboard Motor Manufacturers To Watch
In the past few years there have been several interesting electric outboards introduced into the market. Although the concept of an electric outboard is nothing new, (they have, in fact been in production for more than 50 years), it is innovations in battery technology that has finally made electric outboards a viable option. Here we'll take a look at five of the top players in the electric outboard space currently.
1 - Torqeedo
Torqeedo, a German company, launched their first integral LiOn battery outboard in 2005 and has continued to make strides. Offering up electric outboards for various applications Torqeedo not only has 1, 2 and 3hp light weight engines, but also 6 hp and 9.9 hp versions that would suit a typical cruising dinghy, and 25, 40 and 80 hp outboards for larger, high-speed vessels. With Torqeedo’s pedigree and longevity in the electric outboard market it wouldn’t be a surprise to them release an even bigger engine in the near future.
2 - Mercury Marine
Despite Torqeedo's bleeding edge products and innovative technology, it is perhaps one of the best-known engine manufactures in the world, Mercury Marine, that has recently turned heads in the marine industry with the introduction of it’s Aviator 7.5e electric outboard. The Aviator’s futuristic styling certainly lets you know that this is not your average outboard, and so do the stats. The 750-watt engine rates in the 3.5hp range and under ideal testing conditions ran for 60mins at full throttle, or 19 hours at 25% throttle. A smart design decision to install a quick connect, removable battery means that you can easily replace the power pack on the go and extend the working range of your vessel.
Mercury Marine is also planning to unveil the 20e (10hp) and 35e (15hp) later this year, proving that even the old guard of the petrol engine now sees the potential of electric outboards to take a dominant share of the market in the not-so-distant future.
3 - Vision Marine
Vision Marine, a company based in Quebec, Canada, introduced their E-Motion electric powertrain technology line in 2021 which they claim is both the “world’s most powerful electric powertrain” and the “future of outboard electric powertrain technology.” Met with such enthusiasm that the pre-order frenzy crashed their website, they have garnered the attention of environmental heavy weights such as Greta Thunberg.
The E-Motion 180E is designed to replace any standard 180 hp petrol engine that would fit on a typical 18–26-foot boat. Weighting in at 180kgs it is slightly less than the approximate 215kg of a 200hp Mercury outboard. However, the battery bank that is sold as part of the 180E powertrain package (which also includes a BMS- battery management system-charger, monitor, throttle controls and various bits to connect it all together) will add a hefty 400kg to the vessel. This will be offset by the removal of fuel tanks but still needs to be considered.
Above: The E-Motion 108E electric outboard puts out the equivalent of 230 horsepower, seen here mounted to a 2023 Four Winns H2e runabout boat. Image via Sundance Yacht Sales in Seattle, WA.
Vision Marine has max speed of this outboard rated around 35kts on a typical 20-foot sports boat, with a range of 70 miles at 17.4 kts. The outboard is reasonably prices at around $26995, however the price jumps to $78990 when you add on the battery pack and accessories.
4 - Evoy Electric Outboards
Another electric outboard manufacturer recently turning heads is the Norwegian based company, Evoy. With a soft launch of it’s Storm 300+ at Cannes in September last year and an official unveiling at the recent Dusseldorf Boat Show 2023 Evoy made a big splash. The “world’s first 300hp electric outboard” uses many of the same components of Evoy’s 400hp inboard engine but has a sleek and minimalist design understates the power that is available under the cowl.
Partnering with Finnish boat designer Axopar they clocked an impressive maximum speed of 50kts on a fairly flat open ocean. This is not far off the 57.7hp they achieved with their 400hp inboard and a Goldfish X9 hull. Estimated to have a range of 25 miles at 25 kts the Storm 300+ has certainly set the bar high. Evoy has also announced they are working on the Hurricane 400+ and the Gala 200+ to be released in 2024, giving boat owners plenty of choice. The luxury of choice comes at a price tag for now. The Storm 300+, battery bank and everything needed for installation will set you back upwards of $200,000 USD.
5 - ePropulsion
ePropulsion, a company that was “incubated in the great engineering environment of HKUST” (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology), is a newer player in the electric outboard market. They offer a 3, 6 and 9.9hp outboards that are marketed to small pleasure craft, dinghies, and fishing boats. They boast a positive buoyancy integrated rechargeable battery on their smaller engines, taking away the fear of destroying your motor if it happens to slip overboard. Customizable options such as control panels and battery type on the larger outboards allow the user to construct an outboard to best suit their vessel.
6 - Pure Watercraft
Pure Watercraft is the creator of the "Pure Outboard" solution, comprising an outboard motor designed to deliver power equivalent to that of a 50-horsepower engine. Customers have the option to acquire it alongside either one or two 8.85-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery packs, along with remote control capabilities. The motor's weight stands at 112 pounds, generating 25 kilowatts of power, and features a three-bladed 16-inch propeller.
7 - Flux Marine
A fresh entrant in the field, Flux Marine has recently emerged and is presently accepting pre-orders for three electric outboard models. These variants are offered in power levels of 15, 40, and 70 horsepower, accompanied by the option to choose modular battery packs that incorporate integrated management systems. While we await the tangible manifestation of this company's products, it's worth noting that in 2022, they declared the acquisition of $15.5 million in funding dedicated to development and manufacturing endeavors, making Flux Marine a noteworthy contender to observe.
8 - Elco
Established in 1890, Elco holds the distinction of being the oldest producer of electric motors designed for watercraft in the nation. Since 1950, the company has been dedicated to crafting electric outboard motors. In the contemporary era, they manufacture electric outboards ranging from 5 to 50 horsepower, suitable for both tiller and remote control operation. Furthermore, they also offer inboard motors with a capacity of up to 200 horsepower. It's worth noting that the provision of remote control and battery choices is handled through third-party alternatives.
Advantages Of Electric Outboards
But what are the specific advantages that an electric outboard motor can offer over a conventional combustion gas-powered outboard engine? Let's take a deeper look at some of the main reasons why buyers could opt for electric outboards over their petrol counterparts in the coming years.
Fast And Furious: Instant Torque
Maximum torque at start up is an inherent characteristic of electric engines. This means that electric outboards have both greater maneuverability at slow speed and quicker acceleration times. Making your boat both nimble and fast at the touch of button.
Advancements In Battery Technology
Lithium-Ion batteries, once plagued by their overwhelming size and weight, potential to experience thermal runaway- a deadly and uncontrollable overheating cycle - and high cost, are now smaller and lighter, overall safer, and a little friendlier on the wallet. This new generation of more compact and efficient batteries have allowed outboard manufacturers to produce both smaller engines suitable for dinghies and small pleasure craft, as well as push boundaries on larger, more sophisticated vessels.
Small But Mighty
Electric outboards themselves tend to pack a lot of punch in a small form. As mentioned above, they have instant torque, meaning even a smaller overall power output can be available immediately with maximum efficiency throughout the entire power range.
The Cons Of Electric Outboards
Depsite the advantages of electric outboards of gas outboard engines, there are inevitably some drawbacks. Let's take a look at some of the disadvantages and challenges this new technology is facing.
Cost
Electric outboard motors require a significant amount of power, and the advanced batteries necessary to operate them can significantly escalate the cost of a combined outboard-battery system. For smaller models, incorporating an electric package could lead to a doubling of the overall cost. However, for the largest models, this expense might escalate to five times or more in comparison to the initial cost of an equivalently sized gasoline-powered motor.
Fire Hazard
One often cited risk to electric outboards and e-propulsion systems on the water is the risk of fire hazard due to the energy storage systems onboard (i.e. lithium-ion batteries). As the International Association of Fire Services (CTIF) has noted numerous times, electric vehicles can be prone to spontaneously catching fire after being exposed to or submerged in salt water. The U.S. Coast Guard has also warned that saltwater exposure "can severely harm Lithium-Ion batteries, leading to a chemical reaction that creates a high fire risk". Therefore, it is extremely important to keep any onboard lithium-ion batteries cool and to ensure that they’re not overloaded. Liquid-cooled batteries are one of the best solutions onboard boats that can help mitigate some of these risks. Of course, batteries and electronics have been on boats for many decades, so modern manufacturers are taking this into account, and virtually all new electronic propulsion systems for boats are being designed with this knowledge and general fire safety top-of-mind.
Weight
Weight is always a consideration on a boat, from ballast systems to passengers onboard, any experienced captain knows that more weight can greatly impact the performance of a boat in numerous ways, from seaworthiness to handling and speed. And all those fancy batteries aren't a lightweight proposition for a boat. In fact, despite recent advancements, these battery arrays and storage solutions still weight a significant amount. As advancements in technology drive down the size and weight of batteries as well as increase the strength of light-weight carbon-fiber hull materials, this challenge is becoming easier to overcome. Still it poses an inherent challenge to competing with their gas counterparts.
Range
The biggest hurdle to overcome for electric boats has always been range. Regardless of the quantity of batteries integrated into a boat, or the total power output the electric motor is able to provide, contemporary technology still falls short of achieving a range comparable to that of a conventional gas-powered outboard on a planing powerboat. For the typical boater, the limited range inherent in relying on an electric outboard as the primary means of propulsion frequently becomes a decisive drawback. However, in recent years, great strides have been made in this area. Some electric boat manufacturers and e-propulsion systems are now able to offer a decent enough range to be feasible day boat options for many everyday boating families.
Furthermore, range may not pose as big of a challenge for sailors simply seeking a replacement outboard solely for harbor use or during wind lulls, or for individuals requiring a tender to traverse between dock and mooring. Current technology is certainly able to meet the demands of light tackle anglers employing small Jon boats on inland waterways and lakes, who may only require small trolling motors to fulfill their needs.
Coming To An Anchorage Near You?
It is exciting to see the marine industry working towards more sustainable solutions. Electric outboards do have a lower environmental impact when it comes to emissions. Since they don’t use combustion there is no need for an exhaust. This means there are no fumes or chemicals leeching into the water. No exhaust also means next to no noise, which is not only more pleasant for boaters but less disturbing to the plants and animals below the surface, where sound travels farther. However, as with everything battery operated, finite resources are required to make the batteries our electric gadgets depend on. How those resources are mined and refined has environmental impact, so there is always a trade off.
Like most technological innovations in the marine industry the exciting stuff happens at the top and takes a while to trickle down to the mass market. There might be a scattering of electric powered vessels in anchorages these days, but no doubt as technology progresses and prices decline, we will see more and more boats sporting electric outboards, big and small.
