Market overview: How to make the right choice for an electric outboard motor
Sven M. Rutter
· 17.01.2025
The electric outboard market is developing extremely dynamically, which also applies in particular to the smaller models with an integrated battery. For example, the Austrian manufacturer Aquamot has recently added two new models to its Trend line and the German supplier Torqeedo has completely revised its Travel range. There are also exciting new additions such as the Epropulsion eLite, the Mercury Avator 7.5e and the Temo 1.000 from France. Reason enough to dedicate a current market overview to electric dinghy drives in the power range up to 2 kilowatts (kW).
Electric motors are becoming increasingly popular as dinghy drives in particular. Speed and range do not play such a decisive role in this use, which means that the advantages in terms of handling and weight take centre stage. The integrated battery requires no further installation. And if the battery is removable, it makes it much easier to weigh it into the dinghy.
However, in addition to the design, the individual models also differ considerably in terms of their technical specifications and price. So let's first take a look at what is important when choosing a suitable motor.
The right power: horses and watts
When looking for a suitable engine, the first thing people often look at is the power output. In Germany, the unit watt (W) has been used to specify power for decades - however, horsepower (hp) is still stubbornly used in common parlance, especially when comparing combustion engines and electric motors. 1 hp nominally corresponds to around 735 watts or 0.735 kilowatts. In purely mathematical terms, 1,000 watts would therefore equate to 1.36 hp.
However, word should have got around by now that the performance specifications of combustion engines and electric motors are not one-to-one comparable. After all, the driving licence exemption limit in Germany has now been adjusted accordingly: For combustion engines, a recreational boating licence is required from an engine output of more than 11.03 kW (15 hp); for electric motors, it is required above an output of 7.5 kW. In the case of electric motors, it is therefore assumed that they have approximately 1.5 times the power.
In fact, electric motors are significantly more efficient than combustion engines and are correspondingly more efficient. Especially as they work effectively even at low speeds due to the higher torque. However, the manufacturers of 1 kW electric outboards have even more confidence in their products than the driving licence regulations.
Haswing claims on its website that the performance of its Ultima outboard is comparable to a 4 hp petrol engine. However, the English unit of measurement "horsepower" (hp), which is used there, differs slightly from the German horsepower (1 hp = 1.0139 hp). Mercury attributes the performance of a 3.5 hp burner to its Avator 7.5, as does Aquamot to its Trend 1.1. Epropulsion gives a comparative performance of 3 hp for its Spirit 1.0. The same applies to the Parsun Joy 1.2, the Remigo One and the Torqeedo Travel.
In short: With these 1 kW electric motors, the power is actually doubled when converted into combustion engine hp (3 hp = 2.2 kW). Whereby the factor varies in relation to the exact engine output - in the above examples between around 1.8 and 2.8. If we assume an average of 2.3 and look at things the other way round, the work of a small 2.5 hp petrol engine should actually be able to be done by an electric motor with significantly less than 1 kW. Here we would end up with around 800 watts (2.5 hp = 1.84 kW : 2.3 = 0.8 kW). In fact, the electric outboards offered as dinghy drives with an integrated battery start at just under 500 watts.
Performance values and practice
Whether this is sufficient in individual cases is another matter. Ultimately, the decisive factor is the power that actually reaches the water and the extent to which this is converted into thrust. Some manufacturers also provide information on the thrust of their motors, which is also influenced by the propeller, but by no means all of them. We have therefore relied in part on dealer information in the table here. In addition, the unit of measurement for thrust data varies: some are given in pounds (lbs), others in kilograms (kg). We have converted the table values to kilograms for better comparability (1 lbs = 0.4536 kg).
In practice, however, it also depends on the resistance to the applied force and this in turn depends on individual factors. The most important criteria for calculating the required engine power are therefore the type of boat, the weight including crew/load and the area of use. A sleek rip behaves very differently to an inflatable boat with a flat bottom, large width and unfavourable weight trim. And while one usually sits alone in the dinghy, the other has a full crew on board.
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With this in mind, you might be inclined to plan for a little more power in an unfavourable configuration, although more than 2 kW would be oversized for standard dinghies. The majority of electric outboards offered for this purpose are concentrated around the 1 kW mark.
Battery capacity and range of the electric outboards
Another important selection criterion is the battery capacity, which determines the possible travelling time or range. The battery capacity is sometimes specified in watt hours (Wh) and sometimes also in ampere hours (Ah). We have converted the values in the table to watt hours - the unit most commonly used by manufacturers (Wh = Ah - Volt [V], Ah = Wh : V.).
For the 1 kW models, the battery capacity ranges from 640 Wh for the Aquamot Trend to 1,440 Wh for the Parsun Joy 1.2, although a 1,280 Wh battery is also available as an option for the Trend models. The Spirit 1.0 from Epropulsion also plays in this league with 1,276 Wh. The batteries of the Mercury Avator 7.5e, the Remigo One, the Temo 1.000 and the current Torqeedo Travel offer around 1,000 Wh. However, the battery of the Travel XP with 1,425 Wh also fits on the latter. The Haswing is significantly weaker at 888 Wh.
However, the range also depends on the speed. With most electric outboards, you can roughly double the range between full throttle, half throttle and quarter throttle. So if you take things slowly, you will also make significantly longer progress.
It's not just about personal preferences, but also about the conditions in the area. After all, in flowing or tidal waters, it is also important to be able to tack against the current. In areas without significant currents, this problem does not arise apart from wind pressure.
A question of aspiration
There are therefore a whole host of factors that make a more powerful motor with a larger battery advisable for some, while others can easily manage with less power and capacity. The individual requirements also play a role here: some only want to be able to cover the short distance ashore from a sheltered buoy or anchorage. Others expect adequate power reserves so that they can use the dinghy as an efficient means of transport without hesitation, even in strong winds and rough weather.
Customer reviews should therefore always be taken with a pinch of salt. The right choice of motor requires a detailed needs analysis, which is best realised in the course of competent advice. Our tip: Find a specialist dealer who has the relevant experience.
Motor and battery weight of the Electric outboard motor
In addition to the performance data, weight is a relevant selection factor. When transferring to the dinghy, you quickly learn to appreciate every kilo saved. This is where a removable battery pays off. After all, the battery accounts for around a third of the total weight of many electric outboards. For the Torqeedo motors listed, it is even around 43%, for the Parsun Joy 44% and for the Epropulsion Spirit 1.0 Plus 45%. With the Haswing Ultima 3.0, the battery even accounts for around half of the total weight. The situation is similar with the Aquamot 1.1 when fitted with the large 1,280 Wh battery (total weight: 19.3 kg, battery: 9.8 kg).
It is important that the motor does not have to be dismantled first to remove the battery. This applies in particular to motors with a plug-in battery, such as the Trend models from Aquamot, the Spirit from Epropulsion, the Haswing Ultima, the Parsun Joy and the Torqeedo Travel models. In addition, the Mercury Avator 7.5 and Temo 1.000 have easily removable batteries, and another advantage is that you can carry a spare battery for longer distances if necessary. In case of doubt, however, we would recommend a larger battery if there are any concerns about the achievable range. This is usually cheaper.
Only the Mercury Avator 7.5e, which is quite heavy overall, has a battery weight of less than 30 per cent. Even with the battery removed, you still have to weigh more than 19 kg, or 16.7 kg without the mirror mount. Without the battery, the weight of the other 1-kilowatt models listed averages between 9.5 kg and a good 11.5 kg. Of course, it also depends on the version - a long shaft version usually weighs a little more than a short shaft version. For the sake of clarity, we have focussed on the lightest motor version in the table.
The Haswing is the lightweight among the 1 kW motors, weighing just 8.1 kg without battery. When it comes to maximum performance with the lowest possible weight, Aquamot secures the top spot. The Trend 1.8 with 1,800 watts weighs just around 10 kg without battery. In any case, it stands alone as an electric motor with an integrated battery. The Travel XP from Torqeedo also cuts a fine figure with a pure motor weight of 12.6 kg and an output of 1.6 kW.
It is also possible to go even lighter, as the Epropulsion eLite, the Temo 450 and the Thustme Kicker prove, which land well below the 10-kilogramme mark even including the battery. However, this is associated with corresponding reductions in performance and battery capacity.
Prices and features
When it comes to the ratio of power to price, Aquamot is hard to beat. 2,150 euros for 1,600 watts and 2,350 euros for 1,800 watts for the Trend 1.6 and 1.8 are a real statement. Even if you add the 420 euro surcharge for the large 1,280 Wh battery. The Trend 1.6 is then still around 1,000 euros less than the Torqeedo Travel XP with the same motor power. In addition, Aquamot offers a wide range of shaft lengths, controls and power classes - there should be something to suit everyone.
The Torqeedo Travel XP offers more battery capacity and, like its little brother, various additional features such as a stylish LCD colour display and integrated GPS. This makes it possible to call up various travel data live - from speed and current consumption to remaining range. With an electric motor, it is not so easy to look into the tank and driving behaviour and ambient conditions have a much greater influence on consumption. It is therefore helpful to keep an eye on the most important data.
Torqeedo's production in Germany and the sophisticated engineering, which is also reflected in the build quality, also speak in its favour. The Mercury Avator 7.5e also has a lot to offer in this respect, but in addition to its unique design, it also occupies the top position among the 1 kW models in terms of price. The Temo 1.000 also boasts an exciting design, but is also in the top league in terms of price. The Remigo One comes in a similar guise, but for 2,600 euros it has neither a display nor a replaceable battery.
The Spirit 1.0 Plus from Epropulsion is generally appreciated for its price-performance ratio. 2,200 euros for 1,000 watts and a large battery is a fair offer. We have summarised the Plus and EVO versions in one column in the table, as they differ only slightly in their basic technical data. In addition to the remote control option (wireless), the main special feature of the EVO version is its ability to recuperate - a truly unique selling point.
The cheapest 1 kW model is supplied by Haswing, although it is not very well equipped. The much better equipped Parsun Joy 1.2 is also available for less than €2,000.
Finally, the absolute lightweights among the dinghy electric outboards are even cheaper. You can find them for as little as 1,100 to 1,600 euros. Although they offer significantly less motor power and battery capacity, they surprise with fresh ideas - from the slimline Epropulsion eLite, which looks more like a rudder blade, to the very light Thrustme Kicker (less than 5 kg including battery) and the Temo 450, where the entire motor is also a tiller.
