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Electric boats offer major advantages for beginner and experience boaters alike. But cleaner, quieter and more enjoyable boating often comes with a seriously hefty price tag. Or at least it used to, before the Veer X13 was announced earlier this week.

Compared to the prices we’re used to seeing, the Veer X13 is a welcome change.

Electric boats like the Candela C-8, Navier N30, Arc One and the R30 from Blue Innovations Group are all above (or well above) US $300,000.

We’ve seen somewhat lower cost model announcements recently, like the X Shore 1 at US $139,000 or the POL Lux at US $135,000. But even those prices are out of reach for the casual boater that just wants to go fishing on the weekends without scaring off the fish or inhaling exhaust fumes.

That’s where the electric Veer X13 comes in, which is priced at… TBA. Ok, so the company hasn’t shared pricing details for the electric version of the boat yet, but Veer unveiled two versions of the boat with the ICE-powered version carrying a 9.9 hp outboard engine starting at just $11,995. The company hasn’t shared pricing on the more interesting electric version yet, but expect to be able to buy around 10 of them for the price of even the cheapest electric boats above.

veer x13 electric boat

So how did they do it? Well, they basically just give you much, much less boat.

The Veer X13 isn’t a 30-ft luxury speedboat like most of the other big name electric vessels on the market.

Instead, it’s a 13 ft (4 m) two-seater meant for you an a partner to enjoy a minimalist day on the water.

It’s also not produced from hand-laid carbon fiber or fancy formed aluminum like other big-dollar electric boats. The X13 is manufactured from rotomolded polyethylene. That’s basically the way they make kayaks, and is a cost effective way to produce large and hollow plastic parts like boat hulls. If you’ve ever wondered why a canoe costs 3-4x the price of a kayak on average, there you go.

But the Veer X13 is much more than a kayak. And it also includes more. The boat comes with a galvanized trailer as part of the price, making it easy for new boaters to get started right away.

The X13 uses the newly unveiled Mercury Avator 7.5e electric outboard motor, which makes sense as Veer was started by Mercury’s parent company Brunwick.

The Avator 7.5e is a fairly low power system with just a 750W continuous-rated motor and a peak power rating of 1,000W.

Mercury claims that the electric outboard performs closer in speed and acceleration to a Mercury 3.5hp FourStroke outboard thanks to the higher torque and better performance of electric motors compared to gas engines.

The outboard motor uses 1 kWh battery packs that slide in and out of the unit for easy swapping. A single 48V battery is said to be good for 45 minutes when motoring flat out, or longer at reduced speeds. Carrying a second or third battery makes it easy to stay out longer or travel farther distances. The 16-pound (7 kg) batteries are around the size of a small gas can that many boaters are used to keeping on board.

The electric outboard includes a multipurpose tiller handle that can adjust up, down, left, or right for comfortable steering from any position or with either hand. It also folds down to become a convenient carrying handle when removing the outboard to carry it away from the boat.

Electrek’s Take

As much as I’ve enjoyed covering and test riding some of the fanciest and most powerful electric boats hitting the market over the last few years, I know that luxury electric boats aren’t going to make the kind of quick impact we need in the boating community. It’s affordable electric boats that will actually displace the polluting smaller vessels that are so popular on lakes, rivers and bays around the world.

Boats like this new electric Veer X13 have the potential to do just that. Most average Joe’s aren’t going to buy a $300,000 electric boat. But if they can get this sucker out there for $15,000, trailer included, now that might be tempting to a lot of folks who never thought they’d be able to own an electric boat before.

There needs to be something in between the high dollar luxury electric speedboats and the $1,000 underpowered Chinese electric boat I bought on Alibaba. And this could be it.

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Quick Charge | hydrogen hype falls flat amid very public failures

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Quick Charge | hydrogen hype falls flat amid very public failures

On today’s hyped up hydrogen episode of Quick Charge, we look at some of the fuel’s recent failures and billion dollar bungles as the fuel cell crowd continues to lose the credibility race against a rapidly evolving battery electric market.

We’re taking a look at some of the recent hydrogen failures of 2025 – including nine-figure product cancellations in the US and Korea, a series of simultaneous bus failures in Poland, and European executives, experts, and economists calling for EU governments to ditch hydrogen and focus on the deployment of a more widespread electric trucking infrastructure.

Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple PodcastsSpotifyTuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news.

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Got news? Let us know!
Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.

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Looking for an EV lease under $200 a month? Here’s what’s available in April

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Looking for an EV lease under 0 a month? Here's what's available in April

Believe it or not, you can lease an EV for under $200 a month. New deals on models like the 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Kia EV6 are hard to pass up this month.

Electric vehicles have been all over the news lately, with the Trump administration threatening to end federal incentives and introducing new tariffs that are expected to lead to higher prices.

On the positive side, new EV models are arriving, giving buyers more options and driving prices down. Many automakers reported record US electric car sales in the first three months of 2024.

GM remained the number two seller of EVs behind Tesla after sales doubled in Q1 2025. With the new Equinox, Blazer, and Silverado EVs rolling out, Chevy is now the fastest-growing EV brand in the US. Ford’s Mustang Mach-E is off to its best sales start since launching, with over 11,600 models sold in the first quarter.

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With the 2025 models rolling out and about 15 new EVs arriving this year, many automakers are introducing steep discounts to move vehicles off the lot.

EVs-lease-$200-April
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 Limited (Source: Hyundai)

EVs for lease for under $200 a month in April

Although the decade-old Nissan LEAF remains one of the most affordable this April at just $149 per month, there are a few EVs under $200 right now that are worth taking a look at.

The new 2025 Hyundai IONIQ might be the best EV deal this month, with leases as low as $199. Hyundai is currently promoting a 24-month lease deal with $3,999 due at signing.

EVs-lease-$200-April
Hyundai’s new 2025 IONIQ 5 Limited with a Tesla NACS port (Source: Hyundai)

Hyundai upgraded the electric SUV with a bigger battery for more range (now up to 318 miles), a sleek new look inside and out, and it now comes with an NACS port so you can charge it at Tesla Superchargers.

The offer is for the IONIQ 5 SE RWD Standard Range, which has a driving range of up to 245 miles. For just $229 a month, you can snag the SE RWD model, which has a range of up to 318 miles and a more powerful (225 horsepower) electric motor. It’s also a 24-month lease with $3,999 due at signing.

Hyundai-2025-IONIQ-5-interior
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 Limited interior (Source: Hyundai)

To sweeten the deal, Hyundai is offering a free ChargePoint Home Flex Level 2 EV charger with the purchase or lease of any 2024 or 2025 IONIQ 5. If you already have one, you can opt for a $400 public charging credit.

After slashing lease prices this month, the 2025 Nissan Ariya is actually cheaper than the LEAF in some regions. In Southern California, the 2025 Nissan Ariya Evolve AWD is listed at just $129 per month. The AWD model has a range of up to 272 miles.

EVs-lease-$200-April
2025 Nissan Ariya Platinum+ e-4ORCE (Source: Nissan)

The deal is for 36 months, with $4,409 due at signing. In April, Nissan cut Ariya lease prices to around $239 in most other parts of the country.

Kia has a few EVs available to lease for under $200 a month in April. The 2025 Kia Niro EV Wind is listed at just $129 for 24 months, with $3,999 due at signing. Kia’s crossover SUV has EPA-estimated range of 253 miles.

EVs-lease-$200-April
2024 Kia EV6 (Source: Kia)

The 2024 EV6 may be worth considering at just $179 for 24 months ($3,999 due at signing). In California, the EV6 Light Long Range RWD is only slightly more than the Niro Wind.

In most other parts of the country, you can still find the EV6 for under $200 a month. The Light Long Range RWD trim offers up to 310 miles of EPA-estimated range.

Lease Price Term
(months)
Amount Due at Signing Driving Range
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 SE RWD Standard Range $199 24 $3,999 245 miles
2024 Kia EV6 Light Long Rang RWD $179 24 $3,999 310 miles
2024 Kia Niro EV Wind $129 24 $3,999 253 miles
2025 Nissan Ariya Evolve AWD $129 36 $4,409 272 miles
2025 Nissan LEAF S FWD $149 36 $2,629 149 miles
2024 Fiat 500 INSPI(RED) $199 24 $2,999 149 miles
EVs for lease for under $200 a month in April 2025

And don’t forget the 2024 Fiat 500e, which is now listed at just $199 for 24 months with $2,999 due at signing. The electric hatchback offers a range of up to 149 miles.

If you are looking to spend a little more, check out our list of EVs you can lease for under $300 a month.

Ready to snag the savings while they are still here? At under $200 a month, some of these EV lease deals are hard to pass up right now. Check out our links below to find deals in your area.

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The US’s first solar panels over canals pilot is now online [video]

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The US’s first solar panels over canals pilot is now online [video]

Project Nexus, the first solar panel canopies over irrigation canals in the US, is now online in California, and there are plans to expand the project to other areas.

Project Nexus is a $20 million pilot in central California’s Turlock Irrigation District launched in October 2022. The project team is exploring solar over canal design, deployment, and co-benefits using canal infrastructure and the electrical grid.

India already has solar panels over canals, but Project Nexus is the first of its kind in the US.

The Turlock Irrigation District was the first irrigation district formed in California in 1887. It provides irrigation water to 4,700 growers who farm around 150,000 acres in the San Joaquin Valley.

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Project Nexus will explore whether the solar panels reduce water evaporation as a result of midday shade and wind mitigation, create improvements to water quality through reduced vegetative growth, reduce canal maintenance as a result of reduced vegetative growth, and, of course, generate renewable electricity.

The California Department of Water Resources, utility company Turlock Irrigation District, Marin County, California-based water and energy project developer Solar AquaGrid, and The University of California, Merced, are partnering on the pilot. Project Nexus originated from a 2021 research project led by UC Merced alumna and project scientist Brandi McKuin.

Solar panels were installed at two sites over both wide- and narrow-span sections of Turlock Irrigation District canals in Stanislaus County, in various orientations. The sections range from 20 feet wide to 100 feet wide. University of California, Merced has positioned research equipment at both sites to collect baseline data so the researchers can decide where solar will work and where it won’t.

In February 2023, Project Nexus announced it would also deploy long-term iron flow battery storage in the form of two ESS 75kW turnkey “Energy Warehouse” batteries.

You can learn more about Project Nexus here:

Read more: In a US first, California will pilot solar-panel canopies over canals


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