Electrical propulsion has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years. An expensive folly not so long ago, some companies now report small electric outboards outselling petrol equivalents at a rate of five to one. Here are two more entrants to the market, which we hope to test soon.
More and more yachts are changing their inboard population to electric too. Silent, lightweight, clean, with almost no vibration or maintenance, there’s a lot to like. As things stand, a new electric propulsion system is roughly three times the price of an equivalent diesel system, once you take batteries into account. There’s also a difference in the range. A top-end spec electric fit out on a 35-40ft cruising yacht will, anecdotally, give you 50 miles or so at 6 knots, much more at 3 knots, and more again if you are motor sailing. This can be extended with the use of solar panels, regenerative charging,
