Plugged In
Even two years ago, the idea of electric-powered watercraft was confined mostly to cool-looking sketches. The notion didn’t carry much credibility in the boating world, since water’s high drag caused batteries to deplete quickly and severely limited range. And who wants to be stuck offshore with dead batteries?
Technology may have finally caught up to the concept, with more than a dozen builders (and counting) having recently launched new electric runabouts. Range remains the restricting factor, but these inshore craft now make sense to four-wheeled electric vehicle owners who understand the charging routine. In return: no emissions, instant acceleration and silent running, likely acceptable trade-offs for boaters who typically use their vessels for only limited periods, anyway. Which means right now we’re watching electric boats come of age in real time. Here are five models leading the pack.
Say Carbon Yachts 29 E
This sleek hot rod is the electric version of the popular 29 from Say Carbon, the German yard known for lightweight, ultrafast sport boats with minimalist, luxury interiors. Built from carbon fibre, the US$450,000 29 E clocks in under 2,000kg and is powered by a 360kW Kreisel electric motor and 120kW battery. The company claims it’s the world’s fastest electric boat under 33ft, with a top speed of 92km/h. Of course, all that velocity comes at the expense of range, but at 40km/h it delivers a respectable ambit of 31 miles. Meanwhile, the built-in charger completes a full recharge in six hours.
Marian M 800 Spyder
This new bowrider has a retro, almost Riva-esque look, and since the Austrian yard Marian builds only electric boats, it has the advantage of a hull designed specifically for extended range. The M 800 Spyder can be outfitted with four different power options, from a 60kW motor meant for puttering around a lake up to an electrifying 150kW inboard with 125kW lithium-ion batteries that delivers a top speed of 63km/h and enough torque to allow the M 800, priced from US$270,000, to double as a towboat. At a more leisurely 29km/h, expect a range of up to 30 nautical miles.
Rand Escape 30
Designed as a high-performing electric boat with a wave-piercing hull, this 30-footer was also built light to maximise range. Rand claims the Escape 30 has 30 to 50 pe rcent lower electric consumption than similar-sized boats. Its motors run the gamut from 105 to 460kW, all paired with correspondingly sized lithium-ion batteries. The open-bow 30-footer starts at about US$195,000, can carry up to 12 people and has five seating areas, including a rear-facing lounge over the swim platform, plus an overnight cabin with head. The hard-top design makes the Escape 30 more of a serious coastal boat than others on this list, though your range will vary depending on engine size (and your personal need for speed).
Q Yachts Q30
Designed with aesthetics over speed in mind, this 30-footer from Finnish builder Q Yachts is an ideal lake boat. Top speed is just 26km/h, but at 11km/h it delivers a range of 70 miles, or 10 hours of running time. Starting at US$208,000, it has a cabin for overnighting, complete with fridge, water and electric toilet. Plus, it can be charged with a standard plug.
X Shore Eelex 8000
The instant thrust of this Swedish-built 26-footer, thanks to its 225kW Brusa electric motor, was an absolute thrill when running the boat on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) off Palm Beach in Florida, and the highly respectable 56km/h top end competes with traditionally powered vessels in the same class. The hull is made of recycled plastic and flax fabric (an upgrade from the standard fibreglass/ carbon-fibre weave), and instead of teak soles, X Shore used cork, which provides uncompromising grip while being ecologically sustainable. Twin 60kW lithium-ion Kreisel batteries can be replenished in under 150 minutes with a supercharger. Even blazing down the ICW, the 8000, priced from US$329,000, sounds more like a sailboat than a runabout.