SolidNav brings batteries onto the water with first all-electric boat motor
Drive your electric SUV to the lake while towing a pontoon EV? We're getting closer to this image of a pure electron-driven traditional American summer weekend with a pair of new electric boat motors by SolidNav. The company has announced a new "green" line of motors, designed for sailboats and small watercraft. There are two motors in the line up: the Explorer (pictured) and the Traveler, both available now. The Explorer is as powerful as a 24hp diesel motor and is suited for vessels up to 30 feet long. The smaller Traveler weighs less than 60 pounds and "has been designed for sailboats, pontoon boats and small watercraft." An upside to battery-powered boating: no worries about E10 in your motor. All that fun doesn't come cheap. The Explorer is $4,995 and the Traveler run $2,499. They are what they are. Don't forget you could just go canoeing.
[Source: SolidNav]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Phil L. 4:00PM (10/13/2008)
Important item to note, particularly if you want to compare these motors to similar ICE systems: The SolidNav motors are really just the motors. You need to supply an appropriate battery voltage (48 volts), recharging equipment, etc.
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peter 5:23PM (10/13/2008)
On their website, they claim the "Explorer" is rated at 4kw. At 746 watts per horsepower this converts to about 5.4 hp not 24 hp diesel.
An electric horsepower is no more effective than a diesel horsepower.
p.
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Advent 8:42PM (10/13/2008)
I don't think these are the first. The Torqeedo has been out for at least a couple years now, and honestly it looks like a much nicer system.
These ones look like they're hacked together out of old outboards they got from the recycling facility and repainted. The Torqeedos are scratch-built to be electric.
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jim 9:17AM (10/14/2008)
No they aren't the first, there are a few companies that provide electric propulsion units for marine use, including some with hybrid options. Though SolidNav maybe the first to put an nice marketing ribbon and bow on the product.
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Mark 11:26PM (10/15/2008)
I've got a SolidNav Explorer and no they aren't cheap. They're really well built, nicely engineered, heavy duty units!
Don't know about the ribbons and bows but the R&D these guys (SolidNav) are putting into electric auxiliary propulsion for sailboats is contributing to a Green technology that I think is enviable.