Testing the Torqeedo Electric Outboard Motor
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.31.08
After seeing the Torqeedo electric motor last fall at the Cottage Life Show, I wanted to try one to see if it had the guts to move a boat at a reasonable speed. Tim of Green Boat Supply said earlier ""This is not water-skiing speed, obviously. But you’ll cruise along at a respectable clip and enjoy your surroundings so much more. Many people aren’t looking for a faster, noisier boat ride." which pretty much nailed it.
The design is absolutely lovely and logical, easy to install and adjust, and designed by the industrial designer who does Gardenia garden hardware.
It is smooth, easy to use, (although people used to the throttles on Mercs, which go from reverse through neutral to forward, will have to get used to the fact that it is reversed here) and while it is noisier than I expected, you can hold a conversation while it is going full tilt. Worth checking out if you are getting ready to dump the 9.9 twostroke and are not in a big hurry to get where you are going. ::Torqeedo, imported by ::Green Boat Supply
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Well, Minn-Kota made electric outboard motors since the 1970's
http://www.minnkotamotors.com/
what is so special about this newly imported electric motor ?
What a great design; looks very neat and low maintenance and allied to a suitable lightweight solar panel or two - it'll always be ready to go...
Priced at about $1500.
Priced at about $1500. Plus the cost of two deep-cycle marine batteries, wired in series, a battery charger and perhaps, two long battery cables.
Is this an excerpt from an actual test somewhere? He is running on the 2000 watt model with a user supplied battery bank. I don't think they ever show how large that is.
The self contained 800 watt model is also bolted on the transom, surely they tried that out since the 2000 watt model didn't appear to ever get opened up to full throttle.
I've been considering an 800 watt model and would have loved to see it in operation.
"Priced at about $1500. Plus the cost of two deep-cycle marine batteries, wired in series, a battery charger and perhaps, two long battery cables."
No, they include a 24V 12Ah Lithium battery with it. Unfortunately they don't explain why the expense of a Lithium battery is justified in a boating application. They sell the batteries separately for $640 each. You can get a nice lead-acid battery set with the same amount juice for a hundred bucks or less. Yeah, it'll weigh twice as much, but so what? It's a BOAT.
Smog hit the nail right on the head. There is precisely nothing new here except that Treehugger noticed it.
I remember going fishing and hunting with my dad using an electric outboard back in 1990, with exactly the same amount of battery power coming from deep-cycle marine batteries. That's what they make deep-cycle marine batteries for after all.
I have a 1.5 hp electric outboard that is 20 years old and still works fine.
A 24 v 2000 watt model is a bit more powerful, but not much of a change. The design is still near identical.
I do think this is a green product and deserves a spot here despite being an existing product.
One application I will suggest for these motors would be on sailboats for moving in and out of harbor. (as the batteries can be low and center and the power unit itself is light, the handling should be improved)
One advance in electric outboards that I have looked for but not found is the incorporation of a RingProp or shroud prop.
Because these are often used in low speed applications, the safety features of propeller injury avoidance are useful.
Also, the hydrodynamic design of the ring and blades provides increased thrust and reduces torque steer and ventilation, improving maneuverability while maintaining rapid acceleration and high top speeds.
A 'green' motor with a more efficient propeller would be a nice improvement.