There’s no denying the appeal of gliding over the open water, wind in your hair, and the sun on your face. Boat ownership has long been a cherished dream for many, and with more options for small, affordable boats than ever, that dream is widely becoming a reality. But in recent years there has been an exciting shift in the market towards electric boats. The boating industry, like many other sectors, is undergoing an electric revolution. More and more people are choosing electric boats over their traditional gasoline-powered counterparts, and it’s not hard to see why.
When it comes to speedboats, electric boats may offer many advantages but are still unfortunately quite pricey. With many models costing over US $300,000, a luxury electric speedboat probably isn’t in most our futures.
But when it comes to smaller recreational boats, there are plenty of affordable options out there. So perhaps it’s time to take a look at all the reasons why an electric boat might be for you.
Smooth, quiet, and pleasurable ride
One of the less expected but no less important benefits of electric boats is the serene experience they offer.
Electric motors are incredibly quiet compared to their combustion-powered counterparts, providing a peaceful and smooth ride. This means you can enjoy the sound of the waves, the rustling of the wind, and the calls of wildlife, all without the constant hum of a motor in the background. This tranquil experience can significantly enhance your time on the water.
It’s a similar experience that many off-road vehicle enthusiasts are beginning to experience with electric ATVs and UTVs. While loud combustion engines can scare off wildlife long before they even see the vehicle coming, quiet electric off-road vehicles often allow their occupants to get the best views of nature and the animals that occupy it. The same is true for electric boats, letting you pierce further into serene and undisturbed rivers and streams to enjoy nature without the cacophony of a combustion engine.
Embracing sustainability with electric boats
One of the most obvious as well as most meaningful advantages of electric boats is their positive environmental impact compared to boats with combustion engines. As more people become increasingly conscious of their carbon footprints and look for ways to reduce their impact on the environment, switching to an electric boat could be a significant step in the right direction.
Electric boats produce zero emissions during operation, a stark contrast to gasoline-powered boats that emit carbon dioxide and other pollutants. This helps in mitigating climate change and preserving the quality of our air and water. That’s also a key reason that many lakes in the US, especially in residential complexes, only allow electric or non-powered boats.
Combustion engine-powered boats don’t only have global climate impacts, they also contribute to local pollution that you can see in your own nearby waterways.
Lower operating costs
While the upfront cost of an electric boat may be higher than a gasoline-powered boat, the long-term operating costs are considerably lower. Electric boats are cheaper to run as electricity is much less expensive than marine gasoline. And despite the higher up front cost, there are still plenty of affordable electric boats on the market.
Maintenance costs for electric boats are also substantially lower. Electric motors have fewer moving parts than gasoline engines, meaning there’s less that can go wrong. They don’t require oil changes, filters, or tune-ups that you would usually associate with maintaining a gasoline engine.
While most marine combustion engines require maintenance as often as every 100 hours, some electric marine motors can go as much as 3,000 hours without maintenance. For a weekend boat that gets used eight hours a week, that’s over seven years between maintenance stops.
Increased safety
Electric boats offer a safer boating experience compared to traditional gasoline-powered boats. There’s no risk of gasoline leaks or carbon monoxide poisoning, which are real concerns with internal combustion engines.
Furthermore, the simple, robust design of electric motors means less risk of mechanical failures while you’re out on the water.
The lower noise of an electric boat also makes it easier to hear approaching threats or calls for help.
In an emergency, electric boats can even “idle” at almost zero power drain, allowing the use of electronics such as radios for long periods of time. A small folding solar panel on board can ensure enough power generation for extended periods of low-power operation.
Ease of use
Electric boats are surprisingly easy to operate, making them an excellent choice for novice boaters. The controls are straightforward, with no need to worry about gear shifts or engine stalls.
The instant torque from an electric motor also ensures quick and responsive acceleration, providing better maneuverability and control.
In fact, electric boats are even a great way to teach kids about boating without the added complications of combustion engines, which can be more finicky, louder, and more difficult to control.
Incentives and benefits
Some countries and regions offer incentives and benefits for those who opt for electrically powered boats, as part of efforts to promote eco-friendly alternatives.
These can range from tax credits and rebates on purchase costs to special access to restricted waterways and preferential docking.
Access to electric-only and non-powered lakes or streams is also a major advantage of electric boats over gas-powered vessels.
Maybe it’s time for an electric boat
The age of electric boats is upon us, and it’s an exciting time to be a part of the boating community. Choosing an e-boat is a chance to align your passion for boating with a commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility that effects us all.
Apart from their green credentials, electric boats also offer a host of practical benefits. The tranquility of a noiseless ride, the reduced operating costs, the increased safety, and the ease of use all come together to provide an enhanced boating experience.
While the shift to electric may not be for everyone, it’s an option that merits serious consideration. The market offers a variety of options to cater to different needs and budgets, making it easier than ever to make the switch. You can even find electric boats for under $800 on Amazon, believe it or not.
Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or new to the nautical world, the prospect of owning an electric boat offers an exciting twist to traditional boating.
Sure, gasoline-powered boats have their place and continue to serve many boaters well, especially on longer journeys, but the tide is undeniably turning. The sun is slowly setting on the era of fossil fuels and the electric revolution in boating is set to navigate us toward cleaner waters. Perhaps it’s time to embrace this exciting change and set sail toward a sustainable boating future with an electric boat. I did, and I don’t regret it.
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Tesla has quietly removed the Cybertruck’s range extender from the options in its online configurator.
Does Tesla still plan to bring the product to market?
When Tesla unveiled the production version of the Cybertruck in late 2023, there were two main disappointments: the price and the range.
The tri-motor version, which was the most popular in reservation tallies, was supposed to have over 500 miles of range and start at $70,000.
Tesla now sells the tri-motor Cybertruck for $100,000 and only has a range of 320 miles.
As for the dual-motor Cybertruck, it was supposed to cost $50,000 and have over 300 miles of range. The reality is that it starts at $80,000, and it has 325 miles of range.
However, Tesla had devised a solution to bring the range closer to what it originally announced: a separate battery pack that sits in the truck’s bed. Tesla called it a “range extender.” It costs $16,000 and takes up a third of the Cybertruck’s bed.
Even though the Cybertruck has been in production for a year and a half at this point, the range extender has yet to launch.
Initially, Tesla said that it would come “early 2025”, but we reported that it was pushed to “mid-2025” late last year.
At the time, Tesla also reduced the range that the removable battery pack adds to the Cybertruck to “445+ miles” rather than “470+ miles” for the dual motor – a ~25-mile reduction in range.
Now, Tesla has removed the option from its online Cybertruck configurator. It used to take reservations for the range extender with a “$2,000 non-refundable deposit”, as seen on the image above, but now it’s not in the configurator at all at the time of writing.
It’s unclear if Tesla is not planning to launch the product anymore or if it is just pausing reservations.
In its specs page, Tesla still lists the achievable range of both versions of the Cybertruck with and without the range extender battery:
Electrek’s Take
I’m curious. Is it dead, or does Tesla just want to stop taking reservations for it?
At first, I was curious about the product even though I didn’t think it would make up for Tesla’s significant miss on Cybertruck specs.
However, after it was confirmed that it takes up 30% of your bed and that it needs to be installed and removed by Tesla at a service center, I think it’s pretty much dead on arrival at $16,000.
It’s going to be a product limited to only a few people at best. And now that’s if it makes it to market.
With the option being removed from the configurator, there’s no production timeline available. Again, the last one was “mid-2025”, which is soon.
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Environment
EcoFlow members can save up to 65% on power stations while supporting disaster relief during the 2025 Member’s Festival
Portable power station specialist EcoFlow is kicking off its third annual Member’s Festival this month and is offering a unique new rewards program to those who become EcoFlow members. The 2025 EcoFlow Member’s Festival will offer savings of up to 65% for its participating customers, and a portion of those funds will be allocated toward rescue power solutions for communities around the globe through the company’s “Power for All” fund.
EcoFlow remains one of the industry leaders in portable power solutions and continues to trek forward in its vision to power a new tech-driven, eco-conscious future. Per its website:
Our mission from day one is to provide smart and eco-friendly energy solutions for individuals, families, and society at large. We are, were, and will continue to be a reliable and trusted energy companion for users around the world.
To achieve such goals, EcoFlow has continued to expand its portfolio of sustainable energy solutions to its community members, including portable power stations, solar generators, and mountable solar panels. While EcoFlow is doing plenty to support its growing customer base, it has expanded its reach by giving back to disaster-affected communities by helping bolster global disaster response efforts the best way it knows how– with portable power solutions.
EcoFlow and its members look to provide “Power for All”
Since 2023, EcoFlow has collaborated with organizations worldwide as part of its “Power for All” mission. This initiative aims to ensure access to reliable and timely power to disaster-affected communities across the globe, including rescue agencies, affected hospitals, and shelters, to support rescue and recovery efforts.
This fund most recently provided aid for communities affected by the recent Los Angeles wildfires, assistance to the Special Forces Charitable Trust (SFCT) in North Carolina following severe hurricanes, and support for non-profits engaged in hurricane preparedness in Florida and the Gulf Coast. Per Jodi Burns, CEO of the Special Forces Charitable Trust:
In the wake of devastating storms in Western North Carolina, reliable power was a critical need for the families we serve. Thanks to EcoFlow’s generous donation of generators, we were able to provide immediate relief, ensuring these families and their communities had access to power when they needed it most. We are so impressed with EcoFlow’s commitment to disaster response through their ‘Power for All’ program. It has made a tangible impact, and we are deeply grateful for their support and partnership in helping these families recover and rebuild.
In 2024, the US experienced 27 weather and climate events, each causing losses exceeding $1 billion, marking the second-highest annual total on record, according to National Centers for Environmental Information. The increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters underscore the critical need for reliable and timely power solutions during emergencies, much like EcoFlow and its members are helping provide through the “Power For All” initiative.
To support new and existing EcoFlow members, the company is celebrating its third annual Member’s Festival throughout April to offer a do-not-miss discount on its products and donate a portion of all sales to the “Power for All” fund to provide rescue power to those in need in the future. Learn how it all works below.
Save big and give back during the 2025 Member’s Festival
As of April 1st, you can now sign up to become an EcoFlow member to participate in the company’s exclusive 2025 Member Festival.
As a member, you can earn “EcoFlow Power Points” by completing tasks like registration, referrals, and product purchases and tracking your individual efforts toward disaster preparedness and recovery.
Beginning April 4, EcoFlow members will also be able to take advantage of exclusive discounts of up to 65% off select portable power stations, including the DELTA Pro Ultra, DELTA Pro 3, DELTA 2 Max, DELTA 3 Plus, RIVER 3 Plus, and more. However, these sale prices only last through April 25, so you’ll want to move quickly!
Click here to learn more about EcoFlow’s “Power for All” campaign. To register for EcoFlow’s 2025 Member Festival in the US, visit the EcoFlow website. To register as a member in Canada, visit here.
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Tesla is losing another top talent: its long-time head of software, David Lau, has reportedly told co-workers that he is exiting the automaker.
Tesla changed how the entire auto industry looks at software.
Before Tesla, it was an afterthought; user interfaces were rudimentary, and you had to go to a dealership to get a software update on your systems.
When Tesla launched the Model S in 2012, it all changed. Your car would get better through software updates like your phone, the large center display was responsive with a UI that actually made sense and was closer to an iPad experience than a car.
Tesla also integrated its software into its retail experience, service, and manufacturing.
David Lau deserves a lot of the credit for that.
He joined Tesla in 2012 as a senior manager of firmware engineering and quickly rose through the ranks. By 2014, he was promoted to director of firmware engineering and system integration, and in 2017, he became Vice President of software.
Lau listed the responsibilities of his team on his LinkedIn:
- Vehicle Software:
- Firmware for the powertrain, traction/stability control, HV electronics, battery management, and body control systems
- UI software and underlying Embedded Linux platforms
- Navigation and routing
- iOS and Android Mobile apps
- Distributed Systems:
- Server-side software and infrastructure that provides telemetry, diagnostics, over-the-air updates, and configuration/lifecycle management
- Data engineering and analytics platforms that power technical and business insights for an increasingly diverse set of customers across the company
- Diagnostic tools and fleet management, Manufacturing and Automation:
- Automation controls (PLC, robot)
- Server-side manufacturing execution systems that power all of Tesla’s production operations
- Product Security and Red Team for software, services, and systems across Tesla
Bloomberg reported today that Lau told his team he is leaving Tesla. The report didn’t include reasons for his stepping down.
Electrek’s Take
Twelve years at any company is a great run. At Tesla, it’s heroic. Congrats, David, on a great run. You undoubtedly had a significant impact on Tesla and software advancements in the broader auto industry.
He is another significant loss for Tesla, which has been losing a lot of top talent following a big wave of layoffs around this time last year.
I wonder who will take over. Michael Rizkalla, senior director of software engineering and vehicle firmware, is one of the most senior software engineers after Lau. He has been at Tesla for 7 years, and Tesla likes to promote within rather than hire outsiders.
There are also a lot of senior software execs working on AI at Tesla. Musk has been favoring them lately and he could fold Lau’s responsibilities under them.
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