A flood of announcements about the electric boat
The month of January marked an acceleration in the unveiling of the strategies of the major engine manufacturers around the electric boat. We have seen Volvo Penta to partner with Bénéteau for a new generation 33-foot hybrid boat . On the outboard side, Mercury Marine has launched its range of Avator small power transportable engines on the European market with great fanfare. More discreetly, Honda Marine exhibited a small electric engine concept at Boot Dusseldorf based on its batteries for two-wheelers. Finally, on the occasion of its strategic plan, Suzuki has set 2024 as the release date for its first electric outboard . The marine engine market, which used to be reserved for specialized players and was dominated by Torqeedo and ePropulsion, is now experiencing a turning point.
No market without boats
However, all these engines were still rarely fitted on boats as original equipment. Here again, the shift is underway. We have seen major manufacturers exhibit their electric models, mainly in sailing, but also in dayboats. The arrival of electric boats in the fleet of major rental companies should also reassure boaters of their ability to withstand intensive use.
The next few months and years will be exciting to watch the re-shaping of the recreational boat engine market.
