By Krystina Skibo
EPG Trade Editor in Chief
Gone are the days when owning an electric vehicle meant sacrificing speed and performance. With all the recent technological developments, electric propulsion is moving forward and creating a lot of excitement in this space.
Mercury Marine alone has launched five new electric models in the last 18 months. Two of their newest Avator models, the 75e and 110e outboards, can power larger boats, including RIBs, aluminum fishing boats and mid-size pontoons, according to Patrick Reinke, Avator category manager.
Even the 2024 Olympic Games are joining in on the electric hype, using Torqeedo’s electric motors and batteries for at least four boats at the opening ceremony of the river cruise show. The highlight of the ceremony will be the longest and heaviest electric boat ever launched on the Seine, the “Mistinguett”, which will also be powered by two Torqeedo Deep Blue 100i electric motors and six units of the new Deep Blue Battery 80.
“The city of Paris has set itself the goal of halving the ecological footprint of previous Olympic Games at this year’s Games,” says Matthias Vogel, Senior Vice President of the Customized Solutions Business Unit at Torqeedo.
“We are proud to support the city with our latest project from the Customized Solutions business unit, while setting new standards in sustainability for the 2024 Olympic Games,” he continues. “Converting the Mistinguett to a fully electric propulsion system shows how traditional ships can be equipped with the latest technology to glide quietly and emission-free over the water in the future.”
Development of the electric drive
In general, climate protection is becoming increasingly important worldwide. Since this trend also affects the shipping industry, the last few years have brought a lot of excitement and growth around electrical energy.
“The market has faced some challenges due to higher interest rates, which has also brought some challenges for electric start-ups, but we are still very excited about the direction electric propulsion is heading,” says Dan Ryks, Senior Category Manager at Mercury eSolutions.
Electric solutions manufacturer ePropulsion says it has made tremendous progress in electric propulsion charging and efficiency. “This has enabled us to bring new and exciting products to market such as the award-winning eLite, X and I Series engines. In general, the acceptance of electric propulsion and general acceptance among boaters is finally gaining momentum and our sales show very positive demand for alternatives to combustion engines,” the company said.
While the pandemic affected economies worldwide, sales in the marine industry soared as consumers had no choice but to isolate themselves from society. This increase in sales also gave manufacturers the means to invest more time and effort in electric power.
“Covid has impacted almost every industry in one way or another over the last four years, but it has gotten more people boating, so electric propulsion has definitely gotten a little boost from Covid as well,” says Ryks.
ePropulsion also discusses how Covid has had a positive impact on their business. “We were already busy developing our new 96-volt infrastructure and when demand for boating products skyrocketed, it really boosted our sales,” the company explains. “We have a SIM card in our newer platform that allows for remote diagnostics. This advanced integration, which was already underway, gave us a leg up on the competition.”
Increased consumer expectations
As with every other industry, consumer expectations for electric propulsion are increasing. “Consumers want something user-friendly,” notes Vogel. “They want to be able to start the engine with the push of a button and glide silently across the water without emitting any emissions. They feel better about being out in nature knowing there is a more environmentally friendly solution. This allows them to enjoy their time on the water to the fullest.”
Ryks agrees with Vogel, saying consumers want quiet operation that requires little maintenance and produces no direct emissions.
While boaters’ expectations are certainly rising, questions remain about reliability, weight and range, which can make them skeptical about adopting new technologies.
“However, as technology has advanced in these areas, niche markets such as dinghies, kayaks and paddleboards are realizing the value of electric propulsion in ways they never thought possible,” explains ePropulsion. “I think when a boater is ready to upgrade their boat or buy a new one, they are seriously considering the option of electric propulsion versus combustion engine and whether it is right for their needs.”
Ryks says there are also additional concerns around cost, range, infrastructure, product training, awareness and vessel development. “However, the technology roadmap for batteries and the consumer benefits of electric propulsion give us confidence that these barriers will be reduced over time and the value proposition for electric propulsion will increase,” he says.
Weak point in charging infrastructure
Electric power in the marine industry offers numerous opportunities to change boaters’ attitudes toward watercraft, but it also brings with it some challenges. One of them is charging infrastructure.
“There are numerous initiatives across the country,” explains ePropulsion. “Maine, for example, is conducting an electrical infrastructure study and pilot programs. In addition, most marinas already have standard electrical power to meet many recreational and some commercial needs.”
Since the electric boat segment is still in its early stages, Ryks mentions that the focus is mainly on low voltage and low power boats. “Currently, smaller, lower-power boats with compact battery packs can use existing shore power and household sockets. However, as high voltage electric boats with larger batteries become more common, it will be necessary to develop a more extensive network of DC fast charging stations to support their adoption,” he says.
“Mercury Marine actively supports the development of charging infrastructure by engaging with industry stakeholders and participating in broader discussions about infrastructure needs,” he continues. “Through these efforts, we aim to help create a more comprehensive network that improves electric boating overall and supports the growth of the sector.”
While the electric propulsion segment continues to evolve, Vogel said it is currently relatively easy for recreational boaters to charge overnight at the dock since they are most likely on the water during the day. However, it may be a while before the commercial sector fully switches to electric propulsion since larger boats require more charging time.
“I think this is something we need to look at more closely, because the more boats go electric, the bigger the port needs to be,” he says. “Also, more and more people are driving to their boats in electric cars. Since parking lots need to expand their charging infrastructure anyway, these two infrastructure projects should go hand in hand and make this happen.”
Electrification of the future
As the world becomes more concerned about climate change, electric power will continue to gain importance across all industries. “I think it will create some space in the marine market where consumers can purchase zero-emission boats and enjoy the silence while driving,” Vogel says.
“But there is also room for larger cities like Paris with the Olympics, where you are in a densely populated area and the city is trying to reduce its carbon footprint,” he continues. “Electromobility is important and will certainly dominate the market.”
Mercury eSolutions’ Ryks expects performance to increase as battery technology improves, while costs will decrease with size. “The future of electric power/propulsion in the marine industry is focused on innovation and customer experience,” he says.
ePropulsion expects the electric propulsion market in the future to offer more compact, larger motors, as well as additional horsepower and advanced features such as position hold, autopilot and joystick functions. “In addition, we are focused on creating more competitive pricing and improving battery technology to keep pace with the higher horsepower,” the company said.
