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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.

veer x13 electric boat

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.

veer x13 boat

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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Volvo wins at Le Mans – electric semi debunks range myths ahead of 24h

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Volvo wins at Le Mans – electric semi debunks range myths ahead of 24h

In a big win for Volvo at Le Mans, Danish engineering company Danfoss put its Volvo FM electric Class 8 truck on an 800 mile haul to this year’s 24 hour sports car race to help debunk myths about heavy duty electric vehicles.

In a bid to educate the public about the range and capabilities of heavy duty electric trucks in the real world, engineering group Danfoss Power Solutions drove one of its electric trucks from the company’s headquarters in Nordborg, Denmark, to Le Mans, France in time for the start of this weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans sports car race.

The Danfoss-owned Volvo FM Electric joined 47 other electric vehicles on the 1300 km journey (over 800 miles), which event organizer and Danish electric vehicle (EV) charging company GodEnergi called, “the world’s biggest electric road trip.”

By participating in this event, we aim to prove that electric vehicles are built for endurance and can go the distance,” said Roy Chen, president of the Editron division at Danfoss Power Solutions.

Danfoss’ Volvo is part of the company’s fully electric truck fleet, which operates nearly 24 hours a day, transporting cargo between its production facilities and logistical sites.

The truck uses several essential Danfoss components, such as the Editron ED3 onboard charger with electric power take-off (ePTO), which enables rapid overnight and opportunity charging using readily available utility outlets. The Volvo has also been fitted with Danfoss-produced Semikron SKAI high-voltage traction inverters – modifications that Danfoss and the convoy’s organizers believe echoe the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance racers.

“We are 115 participants [in 48 vehicles] in this road trip who love motorsport and cars and at the same time want to prove that it is possible to cover long distances in electric vehicles,” said Jan Darville, CEO of GodEnergi. “The technology and the opportunities are there.”

Electrek’s Take

Danfoss uses Volvo FM Electric to power its 24 hour trucking operation.
Danfoss’ Volvo FM Electric fleet runs 24/7; via Danfoss.

An 800 mile all-electric road trip to check out the new hybrid Ferraris and Porsches race at Le Mans? That sounds fun on its own. Combine that with a big sleeper Volvo and throw in free charging and a pack of like-minded buddies to tailgate with and it sounds perilously close to an ideal weekend!

As if reading my mind, the Danfoss rep said they had an agreement with charging provider GodEnergi that would allow the truck to charge for free using their chargers during the trip – but the deal went beyond providing electric fuel for the convoy’s vehicles. “All aspects of the road trip are electrified,” Chen says. “… participants will rely on power from the cars for their camp, including cooking on electric grills.”

Yes, please. Danfoss – you know how to find us for 2025!

SOURCES | IMAGES: Danfoss; Power Progress.

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Hyundai says EVs are ‘top priority’ in the US with massive $7.6B Metaplant opening soon

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Hyundai says EVs are 'top priority' in the US with massive .6B Metaplant opening soon

Despite the competition pulling back, Hyundai is racing full speed ahead as it looks to close the gap with Tesla in the US electric vehicle market. Hyundai Motor Group CEO Chang Jae-hoon confirmed EVs are “the top priority” in the US as construction on its massive $7.59 billion Metaplant wraps up in Georgia.

After kicking off construction on its first EV assembly and battery plant in October 2022, the facility is almost complete.

Although several US automakers, including Ford and GM, recently pulled back, Hyundai’s CEO is confident in the Korean automaker’s big bet on EVs.

“Even though the demand for electric vehicles is temporarily fluctuating more than expected, we believe our direction toward electric vehicles is correct,” Chang said to reports in Seoul Monday.

“For now, electric vehicles are the top priority,” Hyundai’s leader added while at an event organized by Georgia Governor Briant Kemp. The comments come as construction on the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) is expected to be complete in Q4 2024.

“Georgia is not only a key area for our company but also the region where the most Korean companies have expanded, making it significantly important in terms of investment scale,” Chang explained.

Hyundai-EVs-US
2024 Hyundai IONIQ 5 (Source: Hyundai)

Although Hyundai Motor has invested $7.59 billion, with its suppliers, the company has attracted over $12.6 billion in investments in the state. It will also create about 50,000 new jobs.

Hyundai is doubling down on EVs in the US

Chang’s comments reflect the same attitude Hyundai’s North American CEO, Randy Parker, had during a recent interview with Electrek.

Parker said Hyundai is “humble and hungry” to separate the brand from the competition (read the full interview here). Hyundai Motor, including Kia, is the second-biggest EV brand in the US.

Hyundai-EVs-US
Hyundai IONIQ 5 (left) and IONIQ 6 (right) at Tesla Supercharger (Source: Hyundai)

“Demand for our vehicles, especially EVs, remains high,” Parker said. Hyundai’s top-selling IONIQ 5 set a new monthly sales record in May, with 4,449 units sold. Hyundai’s IONIQ EV brand sales are up 42% YOY as of May.

January February March April May 2024 YTD Total % Chg YTD
Hyundai IONIQ 5 sales 1,465 1,993 3,361 3,702 4,449 14,973 +43%
Hyundai IONIQ 5 sales in the US by month through May 2024

The EV production line at Hyundai’s Metaplant is expected to be ready in October. Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 will be the first to roll off the assembly line.

Once assembly begins, Hyundai expects EVs built at the facility to qualify for the $7,500 federal tax credit, giving the automaker even more momentum.

Hyundai-IONIQ-5-tax-credit
2024 Hyundai IONIQ 5 interior (Source: Hyundai)

Although the battery unit will come online about a year later, it will be sourced from Hyundai’s Hungary plant. Hyundai, like many automakers, is passing the EV tax credit on to those leasing, drastically reducing prices.

Hyundai already has six of the top ten most affordable and fuel-efficient EVs in the US this year, but the company isn’t planning to slow down.

2024 Hyundai IONIQ 5 trim

Starting Price
(excluding destination fee)
Price after potential $7,500 EV tax credit
(excluding destination fee)
Range
(EPA est miles)
SE Standard Range $41,800 $34,300 220
SE $45,850 $38,350 RWD: 303
AWD: 260
SEL $47,400 $39,900 RWD: 303
AWD: 260
Limited $53,500 $46,000 RWD: 303
AWD: 260
D100 $59,400 $51,900 260
2024 Hyundai IONIQ 5 prices and trim options

Starting at $41,800, Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 is already one of the cheapest EV options in the US, alongside the IONIQ 6 ($37,500) and the new Kona Electric ($32,675).

They are also some of the fastest charging (10% to 80% in 18 minutes) and long-range models (up to 361 miles EPA-est range) on the market.

However, with an added $7,500 cash offer, Hyundai EV leases start at just $189 per month. It’s no wonder Hyundai is racing past rivals.

Electrek’s Take

Hyundai continues surging ahead in the US as rivals are putting off EV investments. The automaker has already proven it’s a real competitor as the US electric vehicle market continues growing.

With access to the $7,500 tax credit, Hyundai looks to strengthen its position and close the gap with Tesla.

The early commitment with its dedicated IONIQ brand and E-GMP platform is paying off as Hyundai looks to take the next step. Hyundai is also expected to reveal its first three-row electric SUV, the IONIQ 9, in the US soon (Check out this video of it testing in the US).

With sales of Kia’s first three-row electric SUV, the EV9, off to a hot start in the US, Hyundai is expected to see similar results.

If you’re in the market for a new electric vehicle, Hyundai is offering some of the lowest prices yet with massive savings opportunities. You can use our links below to find deals on Hyundai’s EVs at a dealer near you.

Source: The Korea Times

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Former Tesla charging members join Revel

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Former Tesla charging members join Revel

Three of Tesla’s top former Tesla charging members in the Northeast have joined Revel to continue deploying EV charging stations.

In April, Elon Musk fired Tesla’s entire 500-people charging team to make an example out of them and their head, Rebecca Tinnuci, who pushed back against further layoffs.

The automaker has since rehired some of them since, after all, they built the best fast-charging network in the world, and it was a ridiculous decision to fire them all.

But the laid-off employees have become prime talent acquisition targets for other charging companies. Revel in New York got the message.

After Tesla fired the team, it quickly started pulling out of leases for upcoming charging stations in New York, where Revel operates.

At the time, Revel told us that it was considering taking over those sites and hiring some of Tesla’s former charging team members.

The company is now following through as Revel announced hiring three former Tesla charging team members.

Revel confirmed that it hired Ed Noseworthy to be its new Director of Design & Construction. Prior to joining Revel, Noseworthy spent almost 7 years at Tesla where he was senior design lead for Superchargers in the Northeast.

The company also hired Henry Misas, who was Senior Design Manager at Tesla and was behind the installation of over 1,000 Superchargers in the Northeast.

Finally, Revel confirmed that Tedy Filis, who was Regional Construction Lead – Charging Infrastructure at Tesla, has also joined the team.

Frank Reig, Co-Founder & CEO of Revel, commented on the new hires:

Revel is building fast charging in the densest, most congested places in America. It’s not easy, but it’s absolutely necessary. These are not one-size-fits-all projects, to get them done we need creativity and hustle. Henry, Tedy and Ed each have those qualities, making them a great fit for our team, and I’m excited to see what they bring as we undertake a major expansion over the next year.

Revel also confirmed that it is actively pursuing Tesla’s abandoned sites in New York.

The company operates large-scale charging sites in New York that are open to the public, but they are primarily designed for ride-hailing drivers, including those on Revel’s own service using an all-electric fleet.

Electrek’s Take

I still can’t believe that Elon did that: firing the team that undeniably built the best and most reliable fast-charging network in the world.

But when he did it, I said that the only good thing that I could see come out of this would be that other charging companies could snap up the talent and use their deep experience in deploying record number of charging stations and try to replicate that.

It will take a while for them to get going again, but it looks like Revel saw the opportunity.

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