Silent and clean: 10 top electric boats on the market
The pros of electric powered boats and yachts
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- No sound from engines — only the gentle splash of waves, cries of seagulls and your favourite music from the speakers to listen to.
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- No exhaust — forget about the unpleasant diesel fumes and smoke.
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- Zero emission — these boats may be used in restricted areas where regular combustion craft are not allowed to.
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- Reduced costs — electricity is much cheaper than regular fuel. For example, according to X Shore's calculations, their 6.4 metre electric boat can save its owner up to $2,000 a year compared to a diesel boat of the same size.
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- Reliability — due to fewer parts that can fail.
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- Smaller electric motors and no bulky exhaust systems provide more usable volume.
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- Higher power compared to diesel and petrol versions of the same size.
Important facts
- - The advantages of electric propulsion are best realised on small dayboats or runabouts. For larger boats and yachts, hybrid propulsion is more favorable as without a combustion engine on board, all the hotel load (air conditioning, lights, heaters, waterpumps, etc.) is taken by the battery, draining energy and reducing the boat's range.
- - It takes quite a long time to fully recharge a battery from the household grid — from 10 hours or longer. The AC and DC fast charging network for electric boats is still developing, but is improving every year.
- - The range of a battery-powered boat is still less than that of a similar sized boat with a combustion engine. But battery and electric motor technology is advancing rapidly, improving the performance of electric boats and yachts.
- - The most common lithium-ion batteries tend to degrade over time, losing some of their capacity but remaining functional. This can be avoided by not using ‘fast’ charging too often. Nowadays, the electric mobility industry is receiving new batteries with a different chemical composition, as well as so-called solid-state batteries, which overcome some of the lithium-ion cells disadvantages.
- - Powerful 800-volt energy banks of electric boats, like similar batteries of electric vehicles, need efficient cooling systems and protection against short circuits and thermal runaway which can cause fire.
Топ-10 электрических катеров в 2024
Frauscher x Porsche 850 Fantom Air
The family-owned Frauscher shipyard started building electric boats as early as 1955. But those were slow-moving, low-powered boats for use on protected lakes in Austria and Germany where combustion boats were not welcome. The current flagship of Frauscher's electric range is a different story, created in co-operation with Porsche, which provided the Austrian boat builders with the electric drive system and batteries of the new generation of the Macan EV electric crossover. The boat is 8.67 metres long and 2.49 metres wide and has an original design with a ‘deep V’ stepped hull, which ensures high stability and speed. It is equipped with a 400 kW synchronous electric motor and can reach speeds of up to 46 knots (85 km/h). The boat uses a 100 kWh lithium-ion battery, which can be charged from a regular socket or specialised charging stations. Charging from 10 to 80 per cent takes less than 30 minutes using a DC power of 250 kWh. The boat's interior includes elements developed by the design studio F. A. Porsche, with a choice of colours and upholstery. The cockpit accommodates up to nine people.
Riva El-Iseo
The electric version of the classic 8-metre Riva Iseo runabout is recognised by its modified cockpit configuration, a new design of the helm station and a special sky-blue hull shade, with a thin aquamarine stripe marking the waterline. The electric version is powered by a Parker GVM310 engine with an output of 250 kW (short-term peak power reaches 300 kW) and 2 liquid-cooled batteries with a capacity of 150 kWh (800 V) each. In fast charging mode, the batteries can be replenished from 20 to 80% of their energy in 1 hr 15 min. Cruising speed of the boat is 25 knots, maximum speed is 40 knots. Though the diesel version is capable of higher speed (41 knots), El-Iseo provides better acceleration. The boat has three cruising modes (Adagio, Andante and Allegro) differing in maximum speed and energy consumption. When the battery power drops to 20 per cent, the boat automatically switches to the most economical mode, allowing you to safely reach the mooring. El-Iseo is built to the highest safety standards — it is the first electric boat to be awarded category B by RINA.
Chris-Craft Launch 25GTe
Celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, the iconic American brand is working on an electric version of the popular Chris-Craft Launch 25 — the GTe. A fully working prototype was unveiled to the public at the 2023 Miami Boat Show. According to the latest available data, the 420bhp bowrider will be able to reach speeds of up to 43 knots and run for around two hours on a single charge from a 133kWh battery. The Launch 25 GTe utilises the EVOA E1 electric system from Mercedes-owned Yasa Motors with an innovative axial flux motor. Similar motors are used in top electric supercars due to their combination of power and compact dimensions.
Arc Sport
Arc brand was founded in 2021 in Los Angeles by a former Tesla employee and specialises in electric boats. The company's first model was a 7.3-metre Arc ONE towboat with a futuristic, minimalist design. The boat was equipped with a 500 hp electric motor with a 220 kWh battery and reached a speed of 35 knots. The range at this speed reached 160 nautical miles, which provided up to five hours of wakeboarding or wakesurfing on a single charge. Interestingly, unlike many other towboats, the Arc ONE has an aluminium hull. The cockpit seats 10 people. The ONE is now sold out and the company is taking orders for the new Arc Sport model with a 15-person fibreglass hull, improved 226 kWh battery, electronic ballast distribution system and a retractable arch with integrated hardtop that allows the cockpit to be fully enclosed and the boat to be used even in the rainy conditions.
Boesch 750 Portofino Deluxe
The exclusive Swiss shipyard dates back to 1910 and still builds elegant retro sports boats for inland waterways and offshore use. Unlike Riva, which is also present in this market segment, Boesch still builds hulls using exclusively laminated mahogany, which the company claims provides the same durability and ease of maintenance as a modern fibreglass hull. Most Boesch boats have a traditional mid-mounted engine with a straight shaft propeller and rudder steering for maximum reliability and a flat trim angle, making them well suited for use as ski boats. Some of the brand's models are available with electric propulsion. For example, the top-of-the-range Boesch 750 Portofino Deluxe electric boat is equipped with two 50 kW Piktronik motors, which provide speeds of up to 21 knots and a range of 14 nautical miles.
X Shore Eelex 8000
The open boat from the Swedish start-up is not just an electric boat, but a modular platform that can be adapted for a variety of purposes like water sports, cruising or working. The high bow and low centre of gravity provide excellent seaworthiness, allowing the boat to sail confidently even in offshore wave conditions. The 6,4 metre long fibreglass and carbon fibre hull holds a 63 kW lithium-ion battery and a 125 kW (170 hp) motor, weighs about one and a half tonnes and can reach up to 30 knots. The boat has a range of about 93 kilometres. Lighting, sound and navigation can be controlled remotely via a smart watch app. The boat can be charged at fast charging stations as well as from regular 240V/30A outlets. Plugged into fast charging, the X Shore gains 80% of its charge in less than an hour. The dimensions of the boat have been chosen to fit into a standard shipping container.
Alfastreet 28 Cabin
These Slovenian-built boats are often seen on the rivers and lakes of Europe. With a spacious multifunctional cockpit, cabin and bathroom, and a closing hardtop, they are perfect for lazy cruising in weather-changing conditions. The family cruiser is powered by a pair of 10kW electric motors. The Alfastreet 28 Cabin is designed to cruise slowly and quietly on calm water at a speed of 5-6 knots, at which she is capable of travelling up to 50 miles on her two 25 kWh batteries. The boat has a maximum speed of 7.5 knots.
Delphia 10 Lounge
The Delphia 10 Lounge is a 9.8 metre multifunctional yacht for quiet and comfortable cruising on rivers, lakes and canals. The boat is designed by the renowned Dutch bureau Vripack, responsible for the creation of many remarkable and seaworthy yachts of reputable European brands. Delphia has a spacious cockpit with 12 seats, a master cabin with large windows and a separate bathroom, a reliable and efficient Torqueedo 80 hp electric motor, a 38 kWh battery, and a comfortable layout with various layout options including an office on board. Depending on speed (up to 6.5 knots), the range is 17-61 nautical miles. Charging from a standard 16A socket from 20 to 100 per cent takes about 10 hours.
Magonis Wave e-550
The Magonis Wave e-550 electric boat from Spain may look like an ugly duckling, but combines power and manoeuvrability that turn her into a nice water toy. This compact bowrider seats six and can reach speeds of up to 22 knots. The builder offers a number of useful options such as a telescopic table, full teak trim, fridge and even an anti-theft system. The control panel is a 13-inch waterproof tablet. There are also wireless charging for smartphones and a high-quality sound system. The boat weighs only 335kg and has a draft of less than 40cm, making it very agile and easy to handle. Wave e-550 is available with four different types of electric motors. The 18 kW model reaches a top speed of 16 knots, while the 30 kW allows a top speed of 22 knots. Power reserve is 12 hours at 3 knots or approximately 30 nautical miles on a single charge, with the possibility of fast charging in less than 2 hours.
Mayla FortyFour
German startup Mayla Yachts is working on the first of its futuristic speedy electric boats called Mayla FortyFour. Built around a Petestep deep V fast hull, this ultra-lightweight carbon fibre electric boat promises to reach speeds of over 70 knots. Electric motors will send up to 2,150bhp of power to the surface drives in tunnels and 4,800Nm of torque promise to provide a really scary acceleration. Power will be provided by either a 500 kWh electric lithium-ion battery or a smaller 400 kWh battery combined with a 400 hp diesel generator. The hybrid version of the boat will provide a maximum range of 270 nautical miles at 30 knots. In addition to high speeds, the boat promises quite a high level of comfort — a cabin for two with ensuite bathroom and a spacious cockpit with a convertible seating/dining area.
A special kind of electric boats are hydrofoil boats. We tell you about some of the most colourful representatives of this breed in a separate article.
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