The Beginner’s Guide to Electric Boats: What to Know

Electric cars have become an everyday thing on our roads, and their performance/running costs package is driving new interest in the boating world. Are electric boats a feasible alternative? Can they deliver the same advantages?  

The answer to both is yes, and the worldwide fan following for electric boats is growing daily.  Electric boats offer faster acceleration, nimbler handling, cleaner performance, quieter rides, less maintenance downtime, and lower long-term ownership costs.

This beginner-friendly intro explains how electric boats work, their benefits, costs, and key considerations before buying – so you can make a confident, well-informed decision.

What kinds of electric boats are on the market?

It’s all about the powertrain.  An electric boat is powered by an electric motor instead of a gasoline or diesel engine. That motor can be an outboard model, or an inboard/sterndrive motor, powered by high-capacity onboard batteries that drive the propeller.

At the same time, it’s not that simple.  Installing an automotive EV powertrain in a boat hull won’t work. Where a car rolls on flat, smooth roads, propelling a boat requires enough power to push water out of the way for every meter of movement. Marine electric powertrains require high, continuous power output.  Battery casings need to be fully waterproof for safety. Voltari Electric engineers high-performance electric marine power systems that are efficient, reliable, powerful and sustainable.

Discover more about Voltari’s electric propulsion technology here:

https://voltarielectric.com/pages/voltari-power

Types of Electric Boats

Marine electric powertrains can take various forms:

• Fully Electric Boats – Zero-emission with 100% battery power
• Hybrid Electric Boats – Combine electric propulsion with supplementary fossil-fuel power
•  Electric Propulsion Retrofits – Traditional boats converted to use electric power

What’s different in an electric boat?

At a casual glance, most electric boats are very hard to distinguish from the traditional fossil-fuel models.  What it boils down to: no gas tank, no engine.  Instead, electric boats have onboard systems to bring in electrical power, store it, and translate it into motion for the boat.

Core Components

• Electric Motor – Provides instantaneous torque and smooth acceleration
• Battery Pack – High-capacity lithium-ion energy storage
•  Battery Management System – Optimizes system efficiency and performance
• Charging System – Supports slow, medium or fast charging at home or marina locations

Performance Advantages

• Instant torque for rapid acceleration
• Nimble, responsive handling
• Quiet, vibration-free ride
• No exhaust fumes
• Precise throttle control

Ownership Benefits

• Lower maintenance requirements
• No fuel, oil changes, or exhaust systems
• Reduced long-term operating costs
• Less downtime, more time on the water

Environmental Benefits

• Zero emissions while on the water
• No fuel or oil spills
• Reduced noise pollution
• Cleaner lakes, rivers, and coastal ecosystems

Key Things to Consider When Choosing an Electric Boat

Electric boats are not all created equal.  Voltari prides itself on its best-in-class status, based on decades of experience in marine design and electrification, and a powertrain and hull designed from the keel up to be optimized for maximum performance.

1. Range & Battery Capacity

Electric boats are similar to gas/diesel boats; range depends on:

• Speed and driving style
• Battery/gas tank size
• Weather and water conditions

Think about your personal usage patterns – where do you go on a typical outing, at what speeds, and how much of that time is under power--and look for a craft that can deliver a full day’s boating.

• Home dock charging units
• Marina dockside power pedestals
• Dedicated marine fast-charging systems
• Automotive roadside J1772 chargers (for on-trailer charging)

Time required for a charge can vary depending on the charger and the amount of charge required.  Some boaters leave the boat connected to a dockside charger to grab a quick top-up while they go for lunch. Others pull in at the end of the day and leave the boat to charge automatically overnight.  Commercial users with fast-charger systems can go from 10% to 90% battery level in 30 minutes.

• Day cruising
• Recreational boating
• Performance runs
• Boating in environmentally regulated waterways

For buyers evaluating performance models, reviewing detailed specifications is critical.

View Voltari performance specifications (example):

https://voltarielectric.com/blogs/specs/patrol-26-models-spec-sheet

Head to head, whether it’s about cost savings, performance, or a more enjoyable boating experience – the case for electric stacks up.

• Reduced maintenance requirements
• Lower cost of electricity versus the cost of fuel for same distance travelled
• Fewer mechanical failures, leading to fewer repairs

Electricity rates vary from place to place, but it’s not unusual to do a complete “fill up” of a Voltari’s battery for less than $20.  We find that some buyers also put a value on the predictability of a Voltari’s cost-of-ownership; with an industry-leading warranty and a radical reduction in maintenance costs, Voltari owners know exactly how much they’ll pay for a season of boating enjoyment.

Ease of Maintenance

Electric boats are simpler to maintain than traditional boats:

• No oil changes
• Fewer mechanical parts
• Advanced onboard diagnostics enabling remote troubleshooting by Voltari team 

Voltari offers expert service, system monitoring, and long-term support.

Explore Voltari service & maintenance: 

https://voltarielectric.com/pages/service

Choosing a High-Performance Electric Boat Brand

To reap the full benefits of marine electrification, watch for brands that have long-term commitment to the technology and to a complete integration of electric powertrains and boat design/systems. When choosing an electric boat or propulsion system, look for:

• Proven engineering techniques
• High-capacity battery systems
• Reliable diagnostics and service
• Long-term manufacturer support

Through its acquisition of marine electrification pioneer LTS Marine, Voltari brings almost 20 years of research and development in powertrains and batteries for marine applications. Voltari Electric merges innovative engineering, clean energy advancements, and marine knowledge to provide superior electric boating solutions.