Electric technology is ready to go, so if you’re not thinking about making the switch, why?
In recent years, the electric revolution has taken the automotive industry by storm and is working its way into the boating industry even faster. Knowing that the switch can help you reduce your carbon footprint while still allowing you to enjoy the activity you love, the switch to an electric outboard is a no-brainer. And yet many people are still hesitating and going with new petrol instead of electric. Why, you ask?
We were wondering the exact same thing and so we've found your concerns so we can answer them. And it always comes down to three things: Can I still go as far as I want to? Is it safe? Is it expensive?
Range anxiety is a concern, and we get it. We're not used to the idea of recharging, but if you think about it it's no different to a fuel gauge. If you have a portable fuel tank, you have no idea how much petrol you have except by shaking it. Once you kept an eye on your tank and when it got a little low, you returned to shore and filled it up, now you watch your LED display, and when it says the battery is getting low, return to shore and recharge. Unlike petrol, electric outboards have a ‘limp’ mode which will get you back to shore.
And just like you can keep spare fuel on your boat you can keep spare batteries if you have far to go. And since every marina already has power on their docks and you have power at home, recharging is easy. So range anxiety be gone, because we know you've got this.
The short answer is yes. The long answer is f**k yes. We have the same safety oversights as a petrol outboard and must meet the same safety standards. However, we're much safer than your ICE Outboard. In fact, despite fears about battery fires (mostly they are cheap chargers on e-bikes, BTW), most boats now carry batteries. A sophisticated lithium-ion battery like the one we sell has a much lower ignition point than petrol, and a BMS to shut it down. Your current fuel tank doesn’t have that. And ours are in IP67 casings - the highest impact rating of 7 and water ingress of 6 - which means half an hour underwater - the biggest waves will not bother these babies!
So, do you want to sit on top of highly flammable fuels, or do you want to sit on some stable and very monitored batteries?
We're big on safety, so we've even added some extra features like our twist throttle handle, lanyard start, and switch-off, which means you can’t start the motor while the throttle is reversed. Also, with an instant take-off and no pull starts slowing you down if you are in trouble, we can get you out of a difficult situation faster - especially in the surf.
Yes and no. Electric requires more upfront investment, but once you have made it and you're no longer paying for petrol, the savings start to rack up quickly. Particularly if you're a serious and regular boater, it can get to the point that you're riding around for free. That's why we've partnered with HandyPay so you can pay off your electric outboard at the same rate you'd be buying petrol anyway. Plus, with fewer maintenance costs and less time loss, you can also save in other ways.
So are you ready to go further, be safer, and save money? Or do you have another concern we haven't yet heard? Let us know because we're always happy to answer any questions.
So contact us and let us help guide you through the process of making the switch to electric.