Electric Outboard Motors

[KSanford33]

With electric cars becoming more and more prevalent, why aren't there any electric outboard motors? I don't know enough about the mechanics of it, but I'd imagine it'd just be a powerful brushless motor. For those of you who know more than I do, what's the hold-up on these?

[MN Fisher]

The Torqeedo has been out for a few years now - all electric outboard

https://www.torqeedo.com/us/en-us

 

I'm still partially against electrics for a couple reasons.

1: Power generation to charge all these - we're pretty much at capacity now, what kind of power plants do you want to build to support all the electrics?

2: Transmission of power from plant to vehicle - the grid is also pretty much at capacity, adding all these electrics is going to put it under more pressure = more rolling brown/black outs.

 

[KSanford33]

8 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

The Torqeedo has been out for a few years now - all electric outboard

https://www.torqeedo.com/us/en-us

 

I'm still partially against electrics for a couple reasons.

1: Power generation to charge all these - we're pretty much at capacity now, what kind of power plants do you want to build to support all the electrics?

2: Transmission of power from plant to vehicle - the grid is also pretty much at capacity, adding all these electrics is going to put it under more pressure = more rolling brown/black outs.

 

Thanks Ken. I know about the Torqueedo, but it maxes out at 80hp. I'm thinking 150-250hp to replace traditional bass boat engines.

 

You're preaching to the choir about whether it's a good idea or not. I'm just surprised no one has done it.

 

I'm sure you're already well-aware of this, but you're a very smart guy.

[MN Fisher]

4 minutes ago, KSanford33 said:

Thanks Ken. I know about the Torqueedo, but it maxes out at 80hp. I'm thinking 150-250hp to replace traditional bass boat engines.

Will 180hp do you?

https://visionmarinetechnologies.com/e-motion-180e/

[KSanford33]

4 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Will 180hp do you?

https://visionmarinetechnologies.com/e-motion-180e/

Again, you never cease to amaze. I don't know if engines like this are a good idea, but I was surprised no one had brought one to market yet. Thanks Ken.

[12poundbass]

I imagine they’ve already considered it, but with all the EV’s catching fire in Florida after the hurricane I wouldn’t want one in my boat. Plus my electric bill is high enough now. ?

[Bankc]

On 11/13/2022 at 12:44 PM, MN Fisher said:

The Torqeedo has been out for a few years now - all electric outboard

https://www.torqeedo.com/us/en-us

 

I'm still partially against electrics for a couple reasons.

1: Power generation to charge all these - we're pretty much at capacity now, what kind of power plants do you want to build to support all the electrics?

2: Transmission of power from plant to vehicle - the grid is also pretty much at capacity, adding all these electrics is going to put it under more pressure = more rolling brown/black outs.

 

Electric boats would mean nothing to the grid.  The drain on the power grid of the entire residential sector is only about 20%.  EV's are less than 1% of that 20%.  And electric boats would be less than 0.1% of that.  

 

The real problem with electric outboards is the same as why you don't see them on airplanes.  It's the batteries.  And it's not so much a safety issue (remember EV's seem to handle driving in the rain just fine).  It's the weight of the batteries.  For example, a Tesla Model S battery weighs about 1,200 lbs.!  And that's just the battery by itself.  A 15-gallon tank of gas?  Maybe 120 lbs, or 1/10th the weight.  In a car you can make up for that weight with the added torque of an electric motor.  But boats have to float.  So if you take a normal bass boat, adding a battery for the electric motor would be like inviting 6 of your 200lb friends to come with you every time you went out!  Well, actually you probably wouldn't need the full capacity of a Tesla Model S battery, so you could probably get by with a smaller battery.  But you get the idea. 

 

A trolling motor is tiny and produces just a fraction of one horsepower, and those batteries are still kind of large.  Adding an electric motor that produces 150-250 horsepower?  That's going to need quite a bit more power than just a few Group 27 batteries will provide.  Even lightweight lithium versions will take up a lot of space and add a significant amount of weight.  

[Craig P]

If you do some Google or Youtube searching, you'll find MANY manufacturers of varying power, including high power.  They even have industry conventions to show off the new products.  It's similar to electric cars though, they're pricey!

[WRB]

Last year I posted that by 2035 gasoline powered engines would no longer being sold in 15 States, starting in California.

Seems far fetched but don’t laugh. I also said then Elon Musk would develop a electric bass boat engine but that doesn’t look possible with his purchase of Twitter.

Enjoy you gasoline powered vehicles and boats while you can, we are being phased out but I am too old to see that happen.

Tom

[VolFan]

23 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

I imagine they’ve already considered it, but with all the EV’s catching fire in Florida after the hurricane I wouldn’t want one in my boat. Plus my electric bill is high enough now. ?

So if you actually look, even with the dozen or so that caught fire due to once in a lifetime flooding from a hurricane, EVs catch fire about one tenth the amount that gasoline cars do even without a biblical storm. The drain on the grid is negligible and a significant percent would be charged at night, when the grid has more available capacity anyway. Not perfect, not completely developed to the level of gasoline engines, and not right for everyone, but let’s try to stick to facts. 

[rboat]

IMHO, Batteries are simply too heavy. Safety is also a consideration with high voltage / amperage in a wet environment. The stress of running out of juice in current or windy conditions may be another problem. With gas, you can carry an extra tank or possibly get some fuel from another boater or from a marina. As of now, price would also be prohibited. A new Tesla starts around 80 grand, an electric bassboat would probably be similar, and the Tesla won't even pull your boat to the lake and back. If we all plug in car, boat, and run your house the demand rises and so does the price of electricty. Currently there is not enough juice for all. NY & Cali already have brown outs and blackouts during high usage. I am sure the future may have better lighter batteries, a hybrid generator model, hydrogen fuel cell model, or something else. Today I do not believe it is really feasible.

[TnRiver46]

They already have electric outboards, I just don’t want one haha. My electric trolling motor already crapped the bed and I don’t have the cash to replace it . Probably had a dozen electric trolling motors and they all quit eventually 

 

I’ve owned many gas outboards, they never quit working. 1957 Johnson sea horse 7.5 still runs 

 

guess what? Water and electricity don’t mix 

[J Francho]

There's quite a few companies making boats with main propulsion from electricity.  Like always, expense, range and weight are the hurdle.  There's already high speed EV luxury boats and ski boats.  It's only a matter of time.

[Deleted account]

On 11/14/2022 at 5:27 PM, WRB said:

Enjoy you gasoline powered vehicles and boats while you can, we are being phased out but I am too old to see that happen.

Tom

I miss my whale oil outboard...

[J Francho]

6 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

I miss my whale oil outboard...

Did you inject yours with baby seal tears? Worked like NO2. 

[VolFan]

Mammoth scat is the one true fuel…I still remember cooking ground sloth over that shtuff…

[WRB]

4 hours ago, Deleted account said:

I miss my whale oil outboard...

Those were whale oil lanterns hung out board on whale boats.

Todays outboard engine oil is synthetic but gasoline isn’t.

Tom

[detroit1]

Thanks for clarifying. ?

[Darth-Baiter]

my gasoline bill eclipses my electric bill.  even with a single EV in our family fleet of two cars. 

[TnRiver46]

21 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

my gasoline bill eclipses my electric bill.  even with a single EV in our family fleet of two cars. 

Down to bout $2.79 over this way 

[MN Fisher]

13 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Down to bout $2.79 over this way 

Pump price here is $3.29

 

I had a .40 discount on my Cub Card so paid $2.89 for the first 20 gallons, pump price for the last 4 gallons.