Want a low-cost electric boat? These are the cheapest options out there
Electric boating certainly isn’t new, but for a long time it has been outside the constraints of most recreational boaters’ wallets. Get ready though, as a new wave of innovation is seeing several new low-cost electric boats starting to enter the US market. Here’s a collection of some of the most interesting and affordable electric boats for rest of us.
Keep in mind that lower-cost electric boats usually mean lower power and shorter range.
You’re not going to get high power and elegantly designed electric boats such as those from companies like Candela and X Shore for just a couple month’s salary. Those luxury electric boats can reach well into the six figures, and their high-end design helps explain the high sticker price.
But for the rest of us, these more everyday electric boats can help scratch the itch for an affordable, quiet, and relaxing lake cruiser.
Veer V13
Veer is a recently launched low-cost boat company, with the Veer V13 serving as its debut model.
Veer’s parent company is Brunswick, which also owns Mercury Marine, a popular outboard engine maker. So it should come as no surprise that Veer’s boats are powered by Mercury drivetrains. While the base model has a combustion outboard, the electric version uses the newly-released Avator 7.5e electric outboard.
The 13-foot (4-meter) two-seater boat is manufactured from rotomolded polyethylene. That’s the same way kayaks are made, and is a cost-effective method to produce large and hollow plastic parts such as boat hulls. If you’ve ever wondered why a canoe costs three to four times the price of a kayak on average, there you go.
That rotomolding production helps the Veer V13 achieve a much lower sticker price than fiberglass or aluminum electric boats.
The base model comes with an entry-level price of US $11,995, including a trailer, though the electric version adds a US $2,100 premium to the total.
Since the Veer V13 is being marketed to new and first-time boat owners, it comes in a bundle with a galvanized trailer, making it easy to start boating right away.
TwinTroller eVenture bundle
TwinTroller is another manufacturer that offers small format boats, though this time with an interesting hull design. A pair of sponsons feature recessed electric motors that give the boat more maneuverability, as well as foot controls to allow the operator to keep his or her hands free. That’s perfect for a small fishing boat.
The hollow cavity under the sponsons floods with water surrounding the two electric motors, creating a form of suction that makes the boat even more stable. Two men can stand on the same gunnel together without the boat tipping over.
The base model of the TwinTroller X10 is priced at US $4,795, while a deluxe version costs US $5,495.
The TwinTroller eVenture bundle adds a more powerful rear electric motor for extra speed or longer run time. That bundle includes the company’s US $4,795 X10 boat as well as a US$2,599 ePropulsion Spirit 1.0 Plus electric outboard motor outfitted with an extra short shaft to fit the X10.
It also includes the Spirit Battery Plus to power the outboard and a US $1,399 trailer, bringing the total price to US $8,293 (including a US $500 discount for buying it all together as a bundle).
Go-Float Vortex
The Go-Float Vortex is a bit more of a recreational, afternoon-on-the-lake kind of boat. Think more along the lines of something you’d rent for a couple hours on vacation, not something you’d take out fishing with your buddies.
But at US $6,995, that low-tech design helps keep it mighty affordable.
The Vortex is powered by a single 12V DC electric motor and enjoys a top speed of 4 mph (6.4 km/h or 3.5 knots). Accessories include deck color choices, rod holders (I guess you can go fishing in it!), a water proof stereo, bimini top, and more.
It might not be the fastest electric boat in the pond, but it sure does look relaxing.
GoBoat 2.0
Like the Go-Float Vortex above, the GoBoat is on the minimal end of what could be considered an electric boat. But since it pushes even further out into the no-man’s land of electric boat minimalism, it also pushes the price further down too.
At just under $1,000 for the recently released GoBoat 2.0 (or closer to $700 for the kid’s size version), this is one of the cheapest electric boats on the market.
The inflatable e-boat is light enough to carry by hand when deflated, yet still packs a (small) punch with its 35 lb thrust 12V trolling motor designed by GoBoat. The company claims that it is the “lightest and most compact 35 lb thrust motor on the market.”
The motor comes with five speeds in the forward direction and two reverse speeds, though the top speed of 5 mph (8 km/h or 4.3 knots) isn’t going to win any water races.
Quietude 156
The Quietude 156 goes a different direction than the more affordable electric boats on this list, but that also makes it a bit more expensive too, at US $35,495.
The four-passenger fiberglass boat is 15.5 feet long (4.7 meters) and comes in a variety of color options for the hull. The boat features a 5 hp outboard motor that can hit a top speed of 6 mph (10 km/h or 5 knots), but cruises at 5 mph (8 km/h or 4.3 knots) for 20 miles (32 km or 17.2 nm).
Owners can customize the color of the deck, interior, and canopy materials to match their preferences.
Budsin 15′ Lightning Bug
According to the manufacturer, “the 15 foot Lightning Bug has been considered the jewel of electric boats ever since we started making them in 1987.”
The cockpit, which seats four adults, includes a single lever for controlling both the speed and the direction of the boat, making operation extremely easy.
At around US $27,000, the 15′ Lightning Bug features wooden decking and interiors. The hull is constructed using three layers of molded cedar and mahogany bonded with epoxy, and includes a mahogany transom.
It’s certainly an elegant looking boat, but it costs a bit more than some of the budget-level offerings on this list.
BOTE + Bixpy
If you don’t mind getting just slightly DIY, BOTE and Bixpy have teamed up to offer an interesting solution to combine their products into an electric boat.
BOTE is well known for its inflatable watercraft, from dock platforms to skiffs, kayaks, and SUPs. Bixpy, on the other hand, creates electric motors and waterproof batteries for electric kayaks, surfboards and other light watercraft. You can probably see where this is going.
The two partnered to create a kit that uses Bixpy’s gear to turn BOTE’s inflatable kayaks into electric boats. The kit makes use of the port on BOTE’s boats that is designed for a pedal drive. But instead of dropping a pedal-powered system into that scupper hole, Bixpy’s adapter drops in to support an electric motor.
The entire setup costs just north of $4,000 and creates an electric boat that can fit into a backpack.
Electracraft 15LS
The Electracraft 15LS is a six-seater fiberglass boat with a molded interior, making it the highest capacity electric boat on this list so far. Though at US $42,000, it’s also the most expensive. If you want to take five friends out with you, though, this is the electric boat to do it in.
The boat comes with upholstered interior, fiberglass dining table with cupholders, and a center helm.
It runs on a 48V system using a set of four 12V marine batteries. The boat also includes an automatic bilge pump, though many of the other nicer accessories are more expensive add-ons.
AQUOS Backpack Series
If you really want to keep things affordable, the cheapest option on this list so far is the AQUOS 7.5-ft Backpack Series inflatable electric boat.
The inflatable pontoons help this boat go from in a bag to on the water in just a few minutes.
There’s only seating for one, but you probably weren’t expecting too much out of this vessel.
It may be spartan, but it does include a fairly nice looking swivel seat and a small 20 lb thrust trolling motor! Not bad for just $795!
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The man behind Jaguar’s radical new EV design, Gerry McGovern, was reportedly fired this week and “escorted out of the office.”
Jaguar design boss who led controversial EV was fired
After unveiling the Type 00 last year, an ultra-luxury two-door EV concept, and what Jaguar claimed to be a preview of its new design, the struggling British automaker almost broke the internet.
The radical, chunky-looking concept came under heavy fire online with comparisons to the Pink Panther and Barbie’s dream car.
Even Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, and EV maker Lucid Motors poked fun at the controversial concept. Musk responded to Jaguar’s post on X last year, “Do you sell cars?” mocking its bold attempt at a rebrand.
Jaguar describes the Type 00 as “an indicator of design philosophy and intent for the coming new vehicles.” The concept not only looks like it was created with Grok or some other AI, but it’s also expected to be pretty pricey.
During an interview with The Sunday Times last year, former CEO Adrian Mardell said Jaguar’s new luxury EV lineup would likely be priced around £150,000, or nearly $200,000.
According to sources from inside the company, Jaguar’s chief creative officer, Gerry McGovern, was fired on Monday.
The sources told Autocar and Autocar India that McGovern was “escorted out of the office” and that his position was eliminated immediately.
When asked for more details, a JLR spokesperson responded, “No comment,” while Tata Motors has yet to respond.
The sudden news comes just a week after PB Balaji, former Tata Motors’ CFO, took over as Jaguar Land Rover CEO amid the company’s struggling efforts to turn things around.
McGovern’s departure after 21 years at JLR signals that bigger changes are coming for the ailing British luxury brand.
The first model from Jag’s new EV lineup was expected to be an electric four-door GT, set for production in mid-2026, followed by at least two more luxury EVs. With McGovern out, those plans will likely change. We’ll keep you updated with the latest.
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Tesla’s registration numbers for November 2025 are starting to roll in for European markets, and they paint a stark picture: demand is still collapsing in nearly every major market, with one massive exception that is propping up the entire region.
According to registration data tracked by Electrek, Tesla’s volumes in key European markets are down 12.3% year-over-year.
At first glance, the 12% decline in November might sound like good news, given Tesla’s sales in Europe have been declining by 30% to 40% each month all year, but it doesn’t tell the whole story.
If you exclude Norway, where a specific tax-incentive change is pushing demand forward, Tesla’s sales in the rest of Europe have plummeted by 36.3% – in line with the year-long decline.
The Norway anomaly vs. the reality
We have been tracking Tesla’s difficult year in Europe for months now, but November’s data shows an unprecedented divergence.
In Norway, Tesla registrations skyrocketed 175% year-over-year to 6,215 units. This massive surge is due to buyers rushing to beat new EV tax changes expected in 2026, which would eliminate tax benefits for more expensive EVs, including virtually all of Tesla’s vehicles.
Norway alone accounted for over 35% of the total tracked volume this month.
Everywhere else, however, the floor is falling out.
Major volume markets are seeing declines of 40-60%:
- France: Down 57.8% (1,593 units)
- Sweden: Down 59.3% (588 units)
- Netherlands: Down 43.5% (1,627 units)
- Germany: Down 20.2% (1,763 units)
Italy remains the only other bright spot with 58.5% growth, but the volume (1,281 units) is too small to offset the crashes in France and Germany. Unlike Norway, where sales are booming as incentives expire, Tesla’s sales in Italy surged due to a new EV incentive.
It sent Tesla’s sales surging 58%, compared with the broader EV industry, which rose 170% in November due to the new incentives.
Here is the full breakdown of the markets reporting so far:
| Market | Nov 2025 | Nov 2024 | Change (Vol) | Change (%) |
| Norway | 6,215 | 2,258 | +3,957 | +175.2% |
| Germany | 1,763 | 2,208 | -445 | -20.2% |
| Netherlands | 1,627 | 2,881 | -1,254 | -43.5% |
| France | 1,593 | 3,774 | -2,181 | -57.8% |
| Spain | 1,523 | 1,669 | -146 | -8.7% |
| Italy | 1,281 | 808 | +473 | +58.5% |
| Belgium | 998 | 1,691 | -693 | -41.0% |
| Sweden | 588 | 1,446 | -858 | -59.3% |
| Denmark | 534 | 1,054 | -520 | -49.3% |
| Portugal | 425 | 801 | -376 | -46.9% |
| Austria | 406 | 440 | -34 | -7.7% |
| Finland | 257 | 323 | -66 | -20.4% |
| Switzerland | 242 | 536 | -294 | -54.9% |
Electrek’s Take
A single market, Norway, is currently saving Tesla’s European sales, but that is clearly temporary. It simply pulled a lot of demand from Tesla’s sales in 2026.
When you strip out the Norway anomaly, a 36% drop in the rest of Europe shows that Tesla’s demand crisis is continuing in Europe.
We are seeing the compound effect of two problems we’ve discussed at length:
- Stale Lineup: The Model Y refresh is here, but it hasn’t been enough to stop buyers from defecting to newer, more competitively priced options from Chinese OEMs like BYD and legacy players who are starting to catch up with Tesla with increasingly more competitive offering.
- Brand Toxicity: As polls in Germany have shown, Elon Musk’s continued political polarization is actively driving away the core EV-buying demographic in Western Europe. You can see this most clearly in markets like France and Sweden, where the drop is nearly 60%.
Tesla needs more than just price cuts or minor refreshes to stop this bleeding. They need to address the brand issue, or 2026 will be a very long year for the company in Europe.
Keep in mind that those 2025 results are also being compared to Tesla’s 2024 performance, which was already down from 2023. This decline has been going on for 2 years now, it only accelerated in 2025.
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Environment
How families could get stuck with higher electric bills if the AI data center boom goes bust
Homes near a data center in Ashburn, Virginia, US, on Friday, July 25, 2025.
Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Data centers that haven’t been built yet are driving up electricity prices and could leave consumers on the hook for expensive power infrastructure if demand projections are wrong.
The race to build facilities that provide artificial intelligence has fueled a boom in data centers that train and run large language models, like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude, upending a utility industry that grew used to 20 years of no increase in electricity demand.
But now, some investors and energy market analysts are questioning whether the AI race has turned into a bubble, one that would prove expensive to unravel as new transmission lines and power plants are built to support those data centers.
Consumers served by the largest electric grid in the U.S. will pay $16.6 billion to secure future power supplies just to meet demand from data centers from 2025 through 2027, according to a watchdog report published this month.
The grid is PJM Interconnection, serving more than 65 million people across 13 states, including the world’s largest data center hub in Virginia and fast-growing markets like northern Illinois and Ohio.
About 90% of that bill, or $15 billion, is to pay for future data center demand, according to Monitoring Analytics, PJM’s independent market monitor. This amounts to a “massive wealth transfer” from consumers to the data center industry, the watchdog told PJM in a Nov. 10 letter.
“A lot of us are very concerned that we are paying money today for a data center tomorrow,” said Abe Silverman, general counsel for the public utility board in New Jersey, one of the states served by PJM, from 2019 until 2023. “That’s a little bit scary if you don’t really have faith in the load forecast.”
Residential electricity prices in September rose 20% in Illinois, 12% in Ohio, and 9% in Virginia compared to the same period last year, according to data from the federal Energy Information Administration. Each of those states are among the top five markets for data centers in the U.S.
The costs associated with securing power for data centers is directly reflected in consumer’s utility bills, said Joe Bowring, president of Monitoring Analytics. “When the wholesale power costs go up, people pay more, when it goes down people pay less,” he said.
Forecast uncertainty
PJM is forecasting 30 gigawatts of extra demand from data centers through 2030, but it’s unclear how much will actually materialize in the end. That’s the equivalent of the average annual power consumption of more than 24 million homes in the U.S.
Data center developers are shopping projects around in different locations before committing to a site, so there is likely duplication in the forecasts, said Cathy Kunkel, a consultant at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).
“We’re in a bit of a bubble,” Silverman, the New Jersey official, said. “There is no question that data center developers are coming out of the woodwork, putting in massive numbers of new requests. It’s impossible to say exactly how many of them are speculative versus real.”
Independent power producers such as Constellation Energy, the biggest owner of nuclear plants in the U.S., and Vistra Corp. warned earlier this year that data center demand forecasts are likely inflated.
“I just have to tell you, folks, I think the load is being overstated. We need to pump the brakes here,” Constellation CEO Joe Dominguez said on the company’s earnings call in May.
Meanwhile, Vistra CEO James Burke also said in May that data center demand could be overstated by three to five times in some jurisdictions as developers scout their projects around the country.
‘Stranded cost’
The risk is that utilities invest in expensive infrastructure to meet data center demand, but not all those facilities are eventually built or they end up using less electricity than expected, said Kunkel, the consultant.
“It does tend to be consumers — residential, commercial, and other industrial ratepayers — that end up paying for overbuilt electrical infrastructure,” Kunkel said. The potential problem will come if capacity is built that isn’t needed, that “would tend to leave ratepayers holding the stranded cost bag.”
Data center demand forecasts have declined when utilities implement stricter rules.
In Ohio, for example, American Electric Power recently had requests for 30 gigawatts of electric connections from data centers.
AEP proposed stricter rules “to mitigate the risk that transmission infrastructure will be built for speculative data center projects,” according to a filing with the state utility commission in May 2024.
The AEP rules require data centers to pay for 85% of the energy they claim to need, even if they actually use less, to cover infrastructure costs. It also implemented an exit fee if data centers cancel their project or can’t meet the terms of their contract.
AEP’s data center requests in Ohio dropped by more than half, to 13 gigawatts after the utility commission approved the rules last July.
“When faced with potential financial commitments, the most speculative or uncertain data center projects did not submit load study requests — as was intended,” the Columbus, Ohio-based utility said in a statement.
The number of requests might decline further as the new rules force data centers to make binding contracts, it said.
The Data Center Coalition, a lobbying group for big tech companies, and other industry advocates have opposed AEP’s stricter rules as “discriminatory.”
Meeting demand
There is also a risk that the electrical grid grows less reliable as many large data center projects move forward. The 13 gigawatts of data center requests that AEP views as a more accurate figure, for example, is equivalent to about a dozen large nuclear plants. The infrastructure, in power plants and transmission lines, required to meet that demand is immense, the utility said.
The solution is for PJM to reject data centers’ requests for grid connection if there is not enough power to supply them, Bowring of Monitoring Analytics said. Data centers can either wait until there is enough power to supply them, or they can bring their own generation with them and jump the line, he said.
Monitoring Analytics filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last week calling on PJM to adopt this approach.
“That will give data centers a clear incentive to bring their [own] generation,” Bowring said. That formula would also help clear up uncertainty over demand forecasts because data centers are unlikely to pay for infrastructure if they are not serious, he said.
Otherwise, the costs that consumers are bearing from data center demand will continue to grow, the watchdog warned FERC in its complaint.
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