FAQ

Q: What is an electric boat? 

A: An electric boat is a watercraft that is powered by an electric motor instead of a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) and uses electricity to power the engine instead of fuel.

Q: How do solar electric boats work? 

A: A solar electric boat is a watercraft that is powered by an electric motor and uses solar panels to generate electricity. The solar panels are mounted on the boat's roof and are made up of photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight into electrical energy .

When the sun shines on the solar panels, the photovoltaic cells generate direct current (DC) electricity. This DC electricity is then sent to a charge controller, which regulates the flow of electricity to a bank of rechargeable batteries. The batteries store the electrical energy produced by the solar panels and provide power to the electric motor that propels the boat through the water.

The electric motor is connected to a propeller, which is used to move the boat through the water. When the motor is turned on, it draws power from the batteries and solar directly and uses it to turn the propeller. The boat moves forward as the propeller pushes water behind it.

One of the advantages of a solar electric boat is that it has an infinite range when paired with lithium-ion batteries on board, which can store the energy produced by the solar panels. However, the amount of energy that can be stored in the batteries is limited, so the boat's range is ultimately determined by the size of the battery bank and the amount of sunlight available to recharge the batteries and top cruising speed.

Q: Why use electric motors instead of gas motors

A: Efficiency: Electric motors are more efficient than gasoline engines. They convert over 85% of electrical energy into mechanical energy, or motion, compared to less than 40% for a gas combustion engine. 

Emissions: Electric motors produce zero emissions, while gasoline engines produce harmful emissions such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. This makes electric vehicles a cleaner and more environmentally friendly option and has no bad smells. 

Maintenance: Electric motors have fewer moving parts than gasoline engines, which means they require less maintenance. This translates to better reliability and lower maintenance costs.  The gasoline-powered vehicle requires a wide range of maintenance, from frequent oil changes, filter replacements, periodic tune-ups, and exhaust system repairs, to the less frequent component replacement, such as the water pump, fuel pump, alternator, etc. 

Acceleration: Electric motors generate much more torque than gasoline engines, which is important because torque is what drives the vehicle forward. Furthermore, an electric motor eliminates the need for a traditional transmission. The power goes straight to the prop for instant acceleration, making them quicker to respond as well as slow speed control for docking.

Cost: Batteries tend to be more expensive to buy upfront than Fuel Tanks. However, the cost of owning and operating an electric boat compared with a gasoline boat is one of the most important considerations as including the cost of fuel and maintenance will make a large percentage of the overall purchase price over the life of ownership.

Q: Electric Boats are Not as powerful why get one?

A: Electric boats can be more efficient in terms of energy consumption. They are also much quieter than gas boats, which allows you to navigate through the waters without disturbing wildlife. This means you can get around without scaring any fish away, leaving you with more (and better) opportunities to get that catch that impresses your friends. For certain types of fish, slow and steady wins the race and it can only be achieved with an electric boat. Electric boats are also much better for the environment when compared to gas propulsion. Additionally batteries can be recharged from the sun anywhere around the world without needing a fueling station allowing full exploration of the world without restrictions. 

Q: Replacement parts may be harder to find why go electric?

A: Electric engines are generally simpler and require less maintenance than gas engines, which means they are less likely to break down. And since they are simpler by design and less parts overall, they can typically be quickly repaired if an issue does occur. 

Q: What are the disadvantages of electric boats? 

A: Electric boats have some disadvantages compared to traditional ICE-powered boats. They have a shorter range, take longer to recharge(refuel). But with the addition of solar, a Solar Boat can refuel itself on its own while enjoying anchorage or slow cruising. 

Q: Diagnosing problems aren’t always as easy?

A: Electric engines are generally simpler and require less maintenance than gas engines, which means they are less likely to break down. Additionally, electric boat motors are much quieter than gas motors, which makes it easier to detect any unusual sounds or vibrations that could indicate a problem.