Buying advice: These electric outboards are available for the dinghy
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The market for electric outboards is currently developing very dynamically, especially for smaller models with an integrated battery. Austrian manufacturer Aquamot recently added two new models to its Trend line, while German supplier Torqeedo has completely revamped its Travel range. There are also exciting new additions such as the Epropulsion eLite, the Mercury Avator 7.5e and the Temo 1.000 from France.
It is therefore worth taking a look at the latest electric dinghy drives in the power range up to 2 kilowatts (kW).
Electric motors are becoming increasingly popular as a drive for dinghies. In this area of application, speed and range are less important, which means that the advantages in terms of handling and weight are more pronounced. The built-in battery makes additional installations superfluous.
If the battery is also removable, lifting it into the dinghy is much easier.
But the engines are also an alternative to the combustion engine for very small small cruisers if the boat is mainly used inland or very close to the coast and is only used for mooring or docking.
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The various models differ not only in design, but also considerably in their technical data and prices. It is therefore important to define the requirements precisely in advance.
The right performance
When looking for a suitable electric outboard motor, the first thing people often look at is the power. In Germany, the unit watt (W) has been used to specify power for decades - however, horsepower (hp) is still stubbornly used in common parlance, especially when it comes to comparing combustion engines and electric motors.
1 hp nominally corresponds to around 735 watts or 0.735 kilowatts. In purely mathematical terms, 1,000 watts would therefore equate to 1.36 hp.
However, the power ratings of combustion engines and electric motors are not comparable on a one-to-one basis.
The licence exemption limit in Germany has been adjusted accordingly: For combustion engines, a recreational craft licence is required from an engine output of more than 11.03 kW (15 hp), for electric engines already beyond an output of 7.5 kW. In the case of electric motors, it is therefore assumed that they have approximately 1.5 times the power.
In fact, electric motors are significantly more efficient than combustion engines and are correspondingly more efficient. Especially as they work effectively even at low speeds due to the higher torque.
However, the manufacturers of 1 kW electric outboards have even more confidence in their products than the driving licence regulations.
Haswing claims on its website that the performance of its Ultima electric outboard is comparable to a 4 hp petrol engine. However, the English unit of measurement "horsepower" (hp), which is used there, differs slightly from the German horsepower (1 hp = 1.0139 hp). Mercury attributes the performance of a 3.5 hp burner to its Avator 7.5, as does Aquamot to its Trend 1.1.
Epropulsion gives a comparative performance of 3 hp for its Spirit 1.0. The same applies to the Parsun Joy 1.2, the Remigo One and the Torqeedo Travel.
In short: With these 1 kW electric outboards, the power is actually doubled when converted into combustion engine horsepower (3 hp = 2.2 kW). Whereby the factor varies in relation to the exact engine output - in the above examples between around 1.8 and 2.8.
If we assume an average of 2.3 and look at the situation the other way round, the work of a small 2.5 hp petrol engine should actually be able to be done by an electric motor with significantly less than 1 kW. Here we would end up with around 800 watts (2.5 hp = 1.84 kW : 2.3 = 0.8 kW). In fact, the electric outboards offered as dinghy drives with an integrated battery start at just under 500 watts.
Theory and practice
Whether this is sufficient in individual cases is another matter. Ultimately, the decisive factor is the power that actually reaches the water and the extent to which this is converted into thrust. Some manufacturers also provide information on the thrust of their electric outboards, which is also influenced by the propeller, but by no means all of them.
For this reason, we have used some of the information provided by dealers in the table below. In addition, the unit of measurement for thrust data varies: some are given in pounds (lbs), others in kilograms (kg). For better comparability, we have converted the table values to kilograms (1 lbs = 0.4536 kg).
In practice, however, it also depends on the resistance to the applied force and this in turn depends on individual factors.
The most important criteria for calculating the required engine power are therefore the type of boat, the weight including crew/load and the area of use. A sleek rip behaves very differently to an inflatable boat with a flat bottom, large width and unfavourable weight trim. And while one usually sits alone in the dinghy, the other has a full crew on board.
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Against this background, one might be inclined to plan for a little more power for the electric outboard motor in unfavourable constellations, although more than 2 kW would be oversized for standard dinghies. The majority of electric outboards offered for this purpose are concentrated around the 1 kW mark.
Battery capacity and range of electric outboards
Another important selection criterion is the battery capacity, which determines the possible travelling time or range.
The battery capacity is sometimes specified in watt hours (Wh) and sometimes also in ampere hours (Ah). We have converted the values in the table to watt hours - the unit most commonly used by manufacturers (Wh = Ah - Volt [V], Ah = Wh : V.).
The battery capacity of the 1 kW electric outboards ranges from 640 Wh for the Aquamot Trend to 1,440 Wh for the Parsun Joy 1.2, although a 1,280 Wh battery is also available as an option for the Trend models. The Spirit 1.0 from Epropulsion also plays in this league with 1,276 Wh.
The batteries of the Mercury Avator 7.5e, the Remigo One, the Temo 1.000 and the current Torqeedo Travel offer around 1,000 Wh. However, the battery of the Travel XP with 1,425 Wh also fits on the latter. The Haswing is significantly weaker at 888 Wh.
However, the range also depends on the speed.
With most electric outboards, you can roughly double the range between full throttle, half throttle and quarter throttle. So if you take things slowly, you will also make significantly longer progress.
It's not just about personal preferences, but also about the conditions in the area. After all, in flowing or tidal waters, it is also important to be able to sail against the current.
In areas without significant currents, this problem does not arise apart from wind pressure.
A question of aspiration
There are therefore a whole host of factors that make a more powerful electric outboard motor with a larger battery advisable for some, while others can easily manage with less power and capacity. The individual requirements also play a role here: some only want to be able to cover the short distance ashore from a sheltered buoy or anchorage.
Others expect adequate power reserves so that they can use the dinghy as an efficient means of transport without hesitation, even in strong winds and rough weather.
Customer reviews should therefore always be taken with a pinch of salt. The right choice of motor requires a detailed needs analysis, which is best realised in the course of competent advice. Our tip: Find a specialist dealer who has the relevant experience.
Motor and battery weight of the electric outboards
In addition to the performance data, weight is a relevant selection factor. When transferring to the dinghy of the electric outboard motor, you quickly learn to appreciate every kilo saved. This is where a removable battery pays off.
After all, the battery accounts for around a third of the total weight of many electric outboards. For the Torqeedo motors listed, it is even around 43%, for the Parsun Joy 44% and for the Epropulsion Spirit 1.0 Plus 45%. With the Haswing Ultima 3.0, the battery even accounts for around half of the total weight.
The situation is similar with the Aquamot 1.1 when fitted with the large 1,280 Wh battery (total weight: 19.3 kg, battery: 9.8 kg).
It is important that the electric outboard motor does not have to be dismantled first to remove the battery. This applies in particular to motors with an attached battery, such as the Trend models from Aquamot, the Spirit from Epropulsion, the Haswing Ultima, the Parsun Joy and the Torqeedo Travel models. In addition, the Mercury Avator 7.5 and Temo 1.000 have easily removable batteries, and another advantage is that you can carry a spare battery for longer distances if necessary.
In case of doubt, however, we would recommend a larger battery if there are any concerns about the achievable range. This is usually cheaper.
Only the Mercury Avator 7.5e, which is quite heavy overall, has a battery weight of less than 30 per cent. Even with the battery removed, you still have to weigh more than 19 kg, or 16.7 kg without the transom mount.
Without the battery, the weight of the other 1-kilowatt electric outboards listed averages between 9.5 kg and a good 11.5 kg. Of course, it also depends on the version - a long-shaft version usually weighs a little more than a short-shaft version. For the sake of clarity, we have focussed on the lightest motor version in the table.
The Haswing is the lightweight among the 1 kW motors, weighing just 8.1 kg without battery.
When it comes to maximum power with the lowest possible weight, Aquamot secures the top spot. The Trend 1.8 with 1,800 watts weighs just around 10 kg without battery. In any case, it is quite unique as an electric motor with an integrated battery with this performance.
The Travel XP from Torqeedo also cuts a fine figure with a pure motor weight of 12.6 kg and an output of 1.6 kW.
It is also possible to go even lighter, as the Epropulsion eLite, the Temo 450 and the Thustme Kicker prove, which land well below the 10-kilogramme mark even including the battery. However, this is associated with corresponding reductions in performance and battery capacity.
Prices and features
When it comes to the ratio of power to price, Aquamot is hard to beat.
2,150 euros for 1,600 watts and 2,350 euros for 1,800 watts for the Trend 1.6 and 1.8 are a real statement. Even if you add the extra 420 euros for the large 1,280 Wh battery. The Trend 1.6 is then still around 1,000 euros less than the Torqeedo Travel XP with the same motor power.
In addition, Aquamot offers a wide range of shaft lengths, controls and power classes - there should be something to suit everyone.
The Torqeedo Travel XP offers more battery capacity and, like its little brother, various additional features such as a stylish LCD colour display and integrated GPS. This means that you can call up a range of travel data live - from speed and current consumption to remaining range. With an electric outboard motor, it is not so easy to look into the tank and driving behaviour and ambient conditions have a much greater influence on consumption.
It is therefore helpful to keep an eye on the most important data.
Torqeedo's production in Germany and the sophisticated engineering, which is also reflected in the build quality, also speak in its favour. The Mercury Avator 7.5e also has a lot to offer in this respect, but in addition to its unique design, it also occupies the top position among the 1 kW models in terms of price. The Temo 1.000 also boasts an exciting design, but is also in the top league in terms of price.
The Remigo One comes in a similar guise, but for 2,600 euros it has neither a display nor a replaceable battery.
The Spirit 1.0 Plus from Epropulsion is generally appreciated for its price-performance ratio.
2,200 euros for 1,000 watts and a large battery is a fair offer. We have summarised the Plus and EVO versions in one column in the table, as they differ only slightly in terms of their basic technical data. In addition to the remote control option (wireless), the main special feature of the EVO version is its ability to recuperate - a truly unique selling point.
Haswing supplies the cheapest 1 kW electric outboard motor, although it is only sparsely equipped.
The much better equipped Parsun Joy 1.2 is also available for less than EUR2,000.
Finally, the absolute lightweights among the dinghy electric outboards are even cheaper. You can find them for as little as 1,100 to 1,600 euros. Although they offer significantly less motor power and battery capacity, they surprise with fresh ideas - from the slimline Epropulsion eLite, which looks more like a rudder blade, to the very light Thrustme Kicker (less than 5 kg including battery) and the Temo 450, where the entire motor is also a tiller.