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This is one of today’s most advanced electric propulsion systems. He eventually patented his unique motor design and has produced over 10,000 boats to this day. Its founder, Marshal “Duffy” Duffield, came up with the idea by taking the electric motor from an old golf cart and placing it in an old motor boat. With the advent of the petrol outboard motors, the use of electric power for boats declined from the 1920s until the Duffy Electric Boat Company of California started mass-producing small electric craft in 1968. Jacobi was restricted by the technology and materials of the time, his electric boat capable of just 2.5 kph and eventually improved to 4 kph. We take a look at four brands that are currently available in the Australian market.ĭuffy. There are several companies manufacturing electric boat engines and distributing globally. This would be the first documented launch of an electric boat. With the boat carrying 14 passengers, it crossed the Neva River on September 1838. In 1836, with financial support from Tsar Nicolas, Jacobi installed an improved version of his motor in a 28-foot paddle boat. Mortiz Hermann Von Jacobi, a Russian inventor, developed an electric motor that powered the first electric cars. However, electric motors have been in existence since the early 1800’s. There is a perception that electric engine technology is a new concept. battery and charger)įirst published in the September 2021 issue of MBY.Boats Power CHARGING TO ELECTRIC PROPULSIONĮlectric powered engines have recently been regarded as the future when it comes to propulsion systems. E-Motion 180 specificationĮstimated range: 70 miles at 20mph (17.4 knots) However, the fact there now appears to be a clean, bolt-on alternative can only be a good thing. Whether the production version of the E-Motion 180 lives up to the performance and range being claimed for it remains to be seen, as does the willingness of a boat market still hooked on petrol outboards to accept the limited range/speed of an electric one. And its ambitions don’t stop there – it already has plans to develop 250hp and 300hp versions. Sea trials of the E-Motion 180 are already underway with first deliveries slated for the end of the year and $300 deposits being taken online for a space in the queue.Īt the moment the company only has capacity to build around 300 engines annually but with 329,000 outboards sold in the US each year, the potential is huge.
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The battery gives an estimated range of 70nm at 20mph You also get to enjoy near silent cruising, fumeless operation and zero emissions at the point of use.
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300 hp electric inboard boat motor full#
With a full recharge costing as little as £5 and minimal servicing requirements, it claims a 90% reduction in running costs. Instead, Vision Marine would rather you look at the lifetime running costs. However, to focus purely on the purchase price is to miss the point. The engine itself is priced at a competitive $26,995 but the complete package, with battery and charger, is a rather less appealing $78,990. Battery life is quoted as 10,000 hours, more than enough to cover the 50 hours use most boat owners clock up each year, and the whole package is covered by a two-year warranty. Counting the costĬharging is via a standard 220V shorepower connector and takes around 12 hours. That said, it does plan to sell the E-Motion 180 as a complete package that includes the motor, a 60kWh battery, an inboard charger, and all the throttle and steering hardware needed to fit it to a boat. None of the main petrol outboard manufacturers publish torque figures for their engines but we’d estimate around 240Nm for a naturally aspirated 200hp petrol engine.Īlthough Vision Marine will build the motors in-house, it claims to be ‘battery agnostic’ when it comes to the suppliers of its Lithium-Ion powerpacks. Thanks to an impressive peak torque of 350Nm acceleration should be strong, enabling it to swing a larger propeller than its petrol counterparts for increased efficiency at cruising speeds. The disguised prototype is already undergoing sea trials on one of Vision Marine’s retro launches
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