Water testing reveals performance of Mercury’s first electric boat outboard motors
Mercury’s recently unveiled electric outboard motors are now on their way to customers after the company announced the beginning of shipments of the Avator 7.5e. And new performance testing shows just what boaters can expect from the motor.
The compact Avator 7.5e is the first of five upcoming electric outboards from Mercury, with the already-named Avator 20e and 35e to be unveiled later this year as higher-power models.
They’re designed to make it easy to electrify small vessels and provide an effective alternative to combustion-engine outboard motors.
Small electric boats offer numerous benefits, making them an attractive choice for boaters. These vessels produce zero emissions, helping to preserve aquatic ecosystems and improve air quality. They also operate quietly, reducing noise pollution and ensuring a peaceful experience for both passengers and surrounding wildlife.
For anglers, the lack of noise and water pollution is even more important before dropping a line in the water.
Additionally, electric boats have low operating costs and require minimal maintenance compared to their gas-powered counterparts, making them an economical and environmentally friendly option for leisurely outings on the water.
Now with the advent of convenient electric outboard motors, small electric watercraft are becoming increasingly accessible.
The Avator 7.5e electric outboard was unveiled in January of this year alongside a new electric boat model from Mercury’s sister company.
That boat, the Veer X13, was used for initial performance testing of the Avator 7.5e outboard.
The Avator 7.5e is a small-format outboard designed for light watercraft. It is rather low power at just 750 watts, which equates to a single horsepower. But electric outboards are known to provide performance that is in line with combustion engine outboards with several times higher power.
Mercury’s own testing on the Veer X13 showed that the 7.5e was capable of speed and acceleration similar to that of a Mercury 3.5 hp FourStroke outboard, putting the electric outboard’s equivalent performance at around 3.5x higher than its nominal power rating.
The upcoming Avator 20e and 35e, if similarly scaled, could thus theoretically match up against combustion engine outboards in the 10 and 15 hp range. But until we see those motors in the water, we’ll have to wait and see.
The Avator line uses 1 kWh swappable batteries that slide into the unit’s case, not unlike a large power drill battery. Run time tests demonstrate the massive difference in efficiency of boats based on speed.
When tested on a Veer X13 boat, a single battery lasted for 60 minutes of operation and a distance of 5 miles (8 km) at 100% throttle. However, when tested at 25% throttle, the battery lasted for 19 hours and covered a distance of 34 miles (55 km), according to PlugBoats.
The swappable battery design means that boaters can bring one or more spare batteries to pop into the unit to expand the electric boat’s range and run time. It’s the same concept as keeping a red gas can on board, just without the mess, expense, fumes, danger, or need to remember to stop at a gas station before heading out.
The transom-mount outboard motor features a standard tiller control but is also set up for digital power & shift remote controls for either center or side console mounting. It also has compatibility with the Mercury Marine smartphone app to offer GPS, a battery charge monitor, and a range estimator.
Electrek’s Take
There are several new small electric outboards and kayak e-motors coming out, and the entire area excites me. I’m a big fan of small electric boats for enjoying some relaxing fun on the water or reaching fishing spots that larger vessels couldn’t access.
Self-contained systems like Mercury’s Avator line, which are basically as easy to operate as a power drill, are going to make light electric boats even more enticing.
The biggest issues are still cost and range, but increasing competition is helping with the former while swappable batteries are helping with the latter.
Hopefully I can get on a Veer X13 soon and test out that Avator 7.5e. Or maybe I should just get one for my own little lake cruiser.
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Following approval from Transport Canada, EV startup Workhorse will be bringing the W56 and W750 model electric delivery vans to commercial truck dealers in Canada as early as this spring.
Workhorse first showed its W56 medium-duty electric truck at Indiana’s Work Truck Week in 2023, and has sold the trucks to logistics and delivery companies like FedEx and Pride Group – which ordered more than six thousand of the electric vans in 2021, and continues to expand its fleet.
“This is a major step forward for Workhorse,” says Josh Anderson, Workhorse’s chief technology officer in a press statement. “Pre-clearance from Transport Canada opens up a large new market for our products throughout Canada, including with fleets that operate across borders in North America.”
As part of the approval process, Workhorse completed its registration as a foreign manufacturer under Transport Canada’s Appendix G clearance program. Transport Canada confirmed the vans’ compliance with Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) for both vehicles – but it remains to be seen if and how the latest tariff-driven trade war between the Trump Administration’s US and Canada will impact Workhorse’s plans to expand throughout North America.
Despite that uncertainty, Workhorse execs remain upbeat. “We’re excited that our electric step vans can now reach Canadian roads and highways, providing reliable, zero-emission solutions that customers can depend on,” added Anderson.
Canadian pricing has yet to be announced.
Electrek’s Take
There’s no other way to say it: the Trump/Musk co-presidency is disrupting a lot of companies’ plans – and that’s especially true across North American borders. But in all this chaos and turmoil there undoubtedly lies opportunity, and it will be interesting to see who ends up on top.
SOURCE | IMAGES: Workhorse, via Electric Autonomy Canada.
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![Liebherr developing giant, 140-ton Segway-style autonomous haulers [video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/operational-area-earth-moving-copy.jpg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
The new Liebherr S1 Vision 140-ton hauler is unlike any heavy haul truck currently on the market – primarily because the giant, self-propelled, single-axle autonomous bucket doesn’t look anything like any truck you’ve ever seen.
Liebherr says its latest heavy equipment concept was born from a desire to rethink truck design with a focus only on core functions. The resulting S1 Vision is primarily just a single axle with two powerful electric motors sending power to a pair of massive airless tires designed carry loads up to 131 tonnes (just over 140 tons).
The design enables rapid maintenance, as important components easily accessible for quick servicing. Wear parts can be replaced efficiently, and the electric drive significantly reduces maintenance work. This helps to minimise downtimes and increases operational efficiency.
LIEBHERR
Because of its versatility, durability, and ability to perform zero-turn maneuvers that other equipment simply can’t, the Liebherr S1 Vision can be adapted for various applications, including earthmoving, mining, and even agriculture. There’s also a nonzero chance of this technology finding applications supporting other on-site equipment through charging or fuel delivery.
The S1 accomplishes that trick safely with the help of an automatic load leveling system that ensures maximum stability, even on bumpy or rough terrain. The company says this technology significantly reduces the risk of tipping while providing smooth and secure operation across various environments.
Liebherr will show the S1 Vision at this year’s bauma equipment exhibition in Munich, Germany. The design has already been nominated for the bauma Innovation Award in the Mechanical Engineering category – and my money’s on it winning.
Electrek’s Take
This is such goofy, stupid fun that if it was wheelbarrow-sized I’d have three of them. I can’t imagine the insanity of watching one of these things roll across a job site with 100 tons of granite in the bucket – and will have nightmares about the kind of damage it could do if it flipped out like a poorly made Chinese hoverboard clone whipping a toddler across a living room … which, in fairness, would probably get a billion views on Instagram or TikTok or whatever.
I can’t wait.
SOURCE | IMAGES: Liebherr.
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The HD arm of Hyundai has just released the first official images of the new, battery-electric HX19e mini excavator – the first ever production electric excavator from the global South Korean manufacturer.
The HX19e will be the first all-electric asset to enter series production at Hyundai Construction Equipment, with manufacturing set to begin this April.
The new HX19e will be offered with either a 32 kWh or 40 kWh li-ion battery pack – which, according to Hyundai, is nearly double the capacity offered by its nearest competitor (pretty sure that’s not correct –Ed.). The 40kWh battery allows for up to 6 hours and 40 minutes of continuous operation between charges, with a break time top-up on delivering full shift usability.
Those batteries send power to a 13 kW (17.5 hp) electric motor that drives an open-center hydraulic system. Hyundai claims the system delivers job site performance that is at least equal to, if not better than, that of its diesel-powered HX19A mini excavator.
To that end, the Hyundai XH19e offers the same 16 kN bucket breakout force and a slightly higher 9.4 kN (just over 2100 lb-ft) dipper arm breakout force. The maximum digging depth is 7.6 feet, and the maximum digging reach is 12.9 feet. Hyundai will offer the new electric excavator with just four selectable options:
- enclosed cab vs. open canopy
- 32 or 40 kWh battery capacity
All HX19es will ship with a high standard specification that includes safety valves on the main boom, dipper arm, and dozer blade hydraulic cylinders, as well as two-way auxiliary hydraulic piping allows the machine to be used with a range of commercially available implements. The hydraulics needed to operate a quick coupler, LED booms lights, rotating beacons, an MP3 radio with USB connectivity, and an operator’s seat with mechanical suspension are also standard.
Like its counterparts at Volvo CE, the new Hyundai excavator uses automotive-style charging ports to take advantage of existing infrastructure at fleet depots and public charging stations. More detailed specifications, dimensions, and pricing should be announced by bauma.
Electrek’s Take
The ability to operate indoors, underground, or in environments like zoos and hospitals were keeping noise levels down is of critical importance to the success of an operation makes electric equipment assets like these coming from Hyundai a must-have for fleet operators and construction crews that hope to remain competitive in the face of ever-increasing noise regulations. The fact that these are cleaner, safer, and cheaper to operate is just icing on that cake.
SOURCE | IMAGES: HD Hyundai; via Construction Index, Equipment World.
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