Electric Drives

Electric propulsion gives quiet, fume-free boating with very little maintenance. This collection covers electric outboards from ePropulsion (eLite, Spirit 1.0+, Navy EVO), Torqeedo (Travel and Cruise; the Cruise 3.0 fixed pod drive is listed under Torqeedo) and Elco (5HP to 30HP outboards); Elco inboard electric motors from 6HP up to a 100HP electric motor; and Electric Yacht QuietTorque inboard drives and saildrives from 5kW to 60kW for sailboats and displacement boats.

How to choose an electric boat motor

• Boat size and speed: displacement, hull type and target cruising speed decide the power you need.
• Outboard, pod or inboard: outboards suit tenders and small boats; pod drives and inboards replace a diesel on larger boats.
• System voltage: small motors run on integrated batteries; larger drives run on 24V, 48V, 72V or 96V banks.
• Range: battery capacity in kWh sets how long you can motor, so plan the battery bank with the motor.

What is the ePropulsion eLite?

The eLite is a compact electric outboard with about 1.5HP equivalent thrust and an integrated battery, aimed at tenders, kayaks and small dinghies.

Are pod drives better than outboards?

Pod drives sit under the hull and keep the transom clear, which suits sailboats and larger hulls. Our electric drive guide compares the options.

What about chargers and spare parts?

Batteries, chargers, throttles and spares are in electric drive accessories.

Looking at electric pod drives? The ePropulsion Pod Drive 3.0 EVO is a 48V, 3kW system (6HP equivalent) with regeneration under sail.

To recharge a 48V drive bank from the sun, see our 48V MPPT solar charger kits.

Not sure which motor fits your boat? See our guide how to choose an electric outboard.

Electric pod drives mount through the hull below the waterline, so the motor runs in the water, stays cool without a pump, keeps the transom clear and works quietly on sailboats and small motor boats. The ePropulsion Pod Drive 3.0 EVO is a fixed 48V 3kW unit, about 6HP equivalent, with no gearbox and regeneration that charges the bank when the boat is sailing faster than the prop is driven. Torqeedo offers the Cruise 3.0 as a fixed pod as well. Pair a pod with a 48V lithium bank sized in kWh for the hours you want to motor.

Repowering a 50 to 85 ft boat? The Elco EP-10000 is a 144Vdc 100hp electric motor that mounts in place of the diesel.