Electrification News
Electric Boat Awards
Nominations are now being accepted for The Gustave Trouvé Awards for Excellence in Electric Boats and Boating. The “Gussies” were started last year by Plugboats, a website dedicated to e-propulsion. Last year’s awards highlighted 50 boats from 19 countries, with more than 10,000 people placing nominations.
Volvo Penta acquires majority stake in battery systems specialist
Electromobility and electrification are among the hottest topics in the marine industry and shaping up to be among the most competitive too, with leading companies such as Volvo, Dometic and Brunswick scrambling to button-down acquisitions and partnerships bringing a broad range of technology solutions in house – particularly in the area of batteries, power management and storage capabilities.
Optima Projects develops new electric boat range
Optima Projects, a specialist engineering and design consultancy in the UK, has developed a new range of cruising boats powered by electric propulsion for RCD Cat B, Offshore rating. Optima’s first 11m boat can be equipped with two double cabins, has extensive galley and social spaces and room for eight to eat around a large cockpit table. The new design is planned for build in the UK later this year, with further models already scheduled.
Frauscher unveils new electric boat
Austria-based boatbuilder, Frauscher Bootswerft GmbH & Co KG, has launched the TimeSquare 20 – a new electric boat which is described by the company as “another milestone in their long history of innovation”. The TimeSquare 20 is a twin-hulled electric boat which Frauscher states is in line with the company’s philosophy of “engineers of emotions”. The model includes a number of innovative features and has a very distinctive design.
US Senator proposes incentives for electric boats
A US Senator from the state of Washington is proposing new tax incentives to accelerate the manufacturing and adoption of all types of electrified transportation modes ranging from recreational boats to industrial equipment. The Fueling America’s Security and Transportation with Electricity Act of 2021 (FAST Electricity Act) would establish a 30% investment tax credit for any electrically propelled vehicle that is not an on-road passenger car or truck as well as for electrical recharging or hydrogen refueling infrastructure, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and Senator Maria Cantwell.
Taking the Electric Avenue
For cruisers and passagemakers, powering a dinghy with a conventional gas-powered micro-outboard can be problematic. The larger vessels’ primary power source is often diesel, requiring owners to stow jerricans of gasoline that, in some cases, violate insurance restrictions. And to prevent theft, taking off and putting on gas-powered engines can be awkward and time-consuming.
First Silent 60 solar electric cat with kite wing launched
Silent-Yachts launched its new Silent 60 solar electric catamaran at its production facility in Thailand recently. This was the first unit of the model, with eight more hulls currently under construction and 17 ordered in total.
New Finnish handcrafted electric wooden boat: Elwood
With its distinctive lines and details, this ultra quiet electric wooden boat from Finnish builder Elwood with propulsion by Oceanvolt is designed to bring its owners closer to nature and provide years of service and delight. Entrepreneur Pasi Virnes, the CEO and Design Director of Elwood, has a background in mechanical engineering and started work in earnest on the Elwood about a year ago, with a vision of a boat with the feel and ‘soul’ of traditional wood construction, able to glide through the waters without disturbing the environment or its inhabitants.
Ingenity To Hold Electric Towboat Demos
Ingenity Electric is hosting “The Ingenity Experience” on Lake Tahoe this summer to showcase the world’s first electric towboat. In partnership with Homewood High and Dry Marina, Superior Boat Repair and Sales, and Tahoe Surf Co., The Ingenity Experience offers outings daily from June through August aboard the Super Air Nautique GS22E.
