Electric Powered Power Boats are Around the Corner?

[Frugal Floater]

I follow Lithium Ion Battery technology and there have been huge advancements lately in the automotive industry...Just some examples of full electric cars coming to market in next few years:

http://www.zapworld.com/zap-x-crossover
http://www.teslamotors.com/

Some notable features is they have over 300 mile range and only takes 15 minutes to charge in standard outlet! Not to mention most faster than a Corvette.

Now I hearing rumors of high performance, yet affordable power boats coming out with 100% electric outboards. There are a few out there now, but they are expensive and top out at 50 km/hr with only a few hour range at mid throttle...wait till they get a hold of new Lithium technology from companies like Valence or Advanced Battery as these batteries are far superior and use no heavy metals...Not to mention electric motors are extremely durable and last a very long time...Just a matter of time in my opinion and a tiny step towards us getting away from foreign oil.

 

[bhammer]

Re: Electric Powered Power Boats are Around the Corner?

I got an advertisement not long ago from Starcraft about their green boat. http://www.starcraftmarine.com/video/go_green.html

 

[npd4432]

Re: Electric Powered Power Boats are Around the Corner?

It always seems the marine industry is about 10-15 years behind the times in comparison with the automotive industry. Being that an electric car is not even mainstream in the auto industry yet, I would say you will be waiting a long time for an affordable electric boat.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Electric Powered Power Boats are Around the Corner?

comment on the Starcraft. who is going to pay $46,000 for a boat that goes 6mph. i do better with my trolling motor.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Electric Powered Power Boats are Around the Corner?

My radio controlled Cessna 172 (44-inch wingspan) uses an outrunner motor powered by a LiPo battery. Short the battery terminals and you have instant fire. Puncture the battery and you have the possibility of fire. Thats why the battery is charged in a fire sock or in my case, in an enclosed metal container sitting on a ceramic tile. A cell balancer is also used to optimize the charge and to prolong the life of the battery. They are light and the discharge rates are 20 - 30 times the battery capacity so they deliver a ton of power. They are also expensive. A 4 Ahr LiPo of 11.1 will set you back somewhere between $150 and $200. Nanophosphate or A123 cells are here as well that do not present the fire hazard. Battery technology is indeed advancing.

 

[Frugal Floater]

Re: Electric Powered Power Boats are Around the Corner?

Here is a boat you could buy today that goes 30 mph and runs entirely on Lithium Ion Battery power..Max cruising range is over 100 miles:

http://www.julika.at/english/

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Electric Powered Power Boats are Around the Corner?

max speed 28mph, for how long at wot. bet it is really pricey. carry a generator to recharge. beautiful boat.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Electric Powered Power Boats are Around the Corner?

I've already got three electric outboards, all made before WWII. A Grimes Electric Oar, a Jewel Electric, and a LeJay electric. None are terribly efficient, but if push came to shove, I wouldn't be rowing...
- Scott

 

[fixb52s]

Re: Electric Powered Power Boats are Around the Corner?

I wonder how long it will take for Starcraft to understand that no one (other than maybe a few tree hugging non boaters) will want a big heavy vessel that costs over $46K and only goes 6 mph? What a joke! And they don't tell you the batteries would cost as much as a total repower to replace. Heck, the batteries for those hybrid Hondas cost about $4K to replace, and only last about 4-5 years. On top of that, even though there is "zero" emissions, do they know the hazards of those batteries? They are toxic, and disposing of them creates new hazards.

When will people stop thinking on emotion and use some logic?

This is nothing but a feel good boat. For that money, you could get a nice REAL boat. I cannot believe Starcraft bought into the Al Gore hype.​

 

[Frugal Floater]

Re: Electric Powered Power Boats are Around the Corner?

I'm far from a tree hugger and agree that Strarcraft is taking wrong approach using old technology. Fact is you can get more performance out of a boat using an electric motor as the new batteries are light and the motor is much lighter than an engine (hence the $40,000 car you can buy now that can go 0-60 faster than a Lamborghini). New batteries also last 15 year.

I know some countries are adopting electric cars and Isreal plans on having all their gas stations convert to battery exchange places similar to propane tank exchange. Slide your battery out, pay, slide fresh battery in. Gas station just pays to recharge the batteries and make sure they are in good shape....Interesting idea for marinas.

Politics aside, I think this is worth exploring as pretty soon I will have direct deposit to Saudi Arabia.

 

[bhammer]

Re: Electric Powered Power Boats are Around the Corner?

Ya, I won't be dropping the $$$ for the boat, just thought it was interesting that a manufacturer had one to go now. I'd hate to have a boat like that and even the toons pass me by. Shoot, I think EC and his steam engine would get going faster than that.

 

[bhammer]

Re: Electric Powered Power Boats are Around the Corner?

When will people stop thinking on emotion and use some logic?​

I agree, that some logic has to start sometime.

This is nothing but a feel good boat. For that money, you could get a nice REAL boat. I cannot believe Starcraft bought into the Al Gore hype.​

It's the same with cars. All politics aside, it still doesn't make sense for the majority of hybrids to use them. I have buddies who own them and they buy them for one reason, a statement. I am sure there are people who buy them to save on gas and that is cool. Thtat is why the Prius outsells the Civic; The Prius looks like a hybrid and the Civic does not.

I don't have a single vehicle out of three that is less than a 6 cylinder and none get better than 20MPH highway. In Dallas / Fort Worth, I get very littl highway driving; more like stop and go. With that said, I am all for technology and a better way to do things.

Make better batteries, that last longer and hold a better charge and I will be all for it.

 

[fixb52s]

Re: Electric Powered Power Boats are Around the Corner?

Well, I think you can see I am no tree hugger, but I do agree that an electric motor idea would be great... as long as the technology is there. Using the current battery technology as a stop gag is doing nothing to help. Too many manufactures are rushing this stuff into the market, and it will only make the idea look bad. Look at this boat. 6 MPH? Come on now, they should do better than that!

As for the battery age, people with hybrids are finding out that their little prizes are only good for 100K miles, then they have a huge expense of batteries, rebuilding the electric motors, etc. They end up paying thousands just for upkeep. It would be cheaper to run a gasoline engine because the difference in MPG will not make up for the extra costs involved with the hybrids.

The main reason for the rush is the tax breaks the government gives them for these products. Even though it is suppose to be "green", it is nothing but junk. The manufactures don't care though because they save millions with the green tax credits. This does NOTHING to solve the "green" problem. It only takes money out of everyones pocket (taxes) and pumps it into these companies. They don't care about the environment, only their bottom line profits.

When the technology is there, then things will look up for electric cars and boats.​

 

[Frugal Floater]

Re: Electric Powered Power Boats are Around the Corner?

I agree it makes no sense to buy a hybrid...the numbers just don't add up. I never liked the whole hybrid concept as you still have to lug around a heavy engine and a motor. As gas prices climb and technology advances, that price gap will come together....If gas doubles again up to $10/gallon, I would consider them.

I just read in the Sea-Pro forum that Brunswick is shutting down their Blue water line of boats. Looks like marine industry is feeling the pinch from the economy and oil prices. Investing in new electric power technology would be a risky move, but could be quite lucrative if they can get it on par with gas powered boats.

Maybe steam is the way to go after all

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Electric Powered Power Boats are Around the Corner?

Yeah.

What is really the next generation in boats isn't electric powered ones, unless there's some huge revolution in battery technology, which almost certainly isn't going to happen.

What's next will be a conversion to a different fuel or a different engine type, or both, that may be cleaner but which MUST be cheaper to succeed. Steam is a possibility, but not a high probability.

Sterling engines maybe, especially since boats typically have access to a very good source of cooling for the cold side.

Most likely, and where I'd bet if I had to put some money on it, is that boats will be converted to use biofuels like biodiesel or cellulosic ethanol, or another synthetic fuel that can run in internal combustion engines.

Electric power is clean, quiet, and depending on what generates it renewable or very clean, but it will take a completely new technology, far beyond just the improved batteries, to make it practical. Something like superconducting motors, or an onboard fuel cell power source.

No one is going to want to buy a boat, which is for most people an expensive toy, that has lower performance just to be greener. They'll buy one that runs greener if forced by law (cat. converter or emissions requirements) and they'll buy a greener one if it's cheaper (ethanol powered) but if it's a significant drop in performance, forget it.

I think most of us here are cringing at gas prices, but we're all mostly just budgeting to pay 'em and keep boating.

Erik

 

[INJUN]

Re: Electric Powered Power Boats are Around the Corner?

Sailboats will make a come back. Remember, that was once the only way to go.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Electric Powered Power Boats are Around the Corner?

They already are making a comeback.

But, many of the boats sold today are for smaller or shallow lakes, and a lot of them are strictly for waterskiing, wakeboarding, and fishing.

Ever try to troll or waterski with a sailboat?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Electric Powered Power Boats are Around the Corner?

They did a piece on this boat in the lastest Go Boating magazine. Beautiful. http://www.edison-marine.com/ Little pricey at a 100k though

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Electric Powered Power Boats are Around the Corner?

I just read in the Sea-Pro forum that Brunswick is shutting down their Blue water line of boats. Looks like marine industry is feeling the pinch from the economy and oil prices. )

They also sold Baja to Fountain

 

[2kwik4u]

Re: Electric Powered Power Boats are Around the Corner?

I don't have a single vehicle out of three that is less than a 6 cylinder and none get better than 20MPH highway. In Dallas / Fort Worth, I get very littl highway driving; more like stop and go. With that said, I am all for technology and a better way to do things.

You are a prime candidate for a Hybrid. They get much better city mileage than highway mileage do to the ability to turn off the motor in stop/go driving. This is also where a great deal of the pollution comes from. Idling. If you're current 6cyl's aren't getting 20mpg on the highway, you have some tuneup issues to address. City driving hurts mileage, but dammm dude, something there isn't right.

In reference to another poster.....The payback on Hybrids is still a ways off. You need to jump from something getting in the mid-low teens for mileage to something that is getting in the mid-high 40's to make the car "pay the difference" in price before it wears out. If you run the math, the rule of dimishing returns starts taking effect somewhere in the 30-35mpg range!