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Electric Boat may mean different things to different people. In military parlance it is likely to mean a SUBMARINE as these have been driven by electric motors since before the First World War! Indeed, many modern ships are also driven by electric motors, for example the 150,000 tonne Cunard liner Queen Mary 2, which is driven by 4 powerful "pod" style motors.
To us, an electric boat is simply a boat driven by an electric motor.
BELOW - Some electric boats (click on photo for larger image)
 River cruiser Mundoo 3, Renmark South Australia, 10m long, Lynch pattern inboard electric motor supplied by Solarboat. |
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Electric drive may be chosen because of the absence of fumes and noise typical of this type of drive, because of the lack of pollution of the waterway, because of the great freedom it gives in the layout of the boat, or because of the extraordinarily low running costs (fuel and and maintenance) compared to an boat driven by any other type of motor, or merely because the motor can deliver full power immediately on the "flick of a switch" with no need for warming up (or for first clearing explosive vapours from the bilges).
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 30 passenger Tour Ferry, Tahbilk Winery, Nagambie Victoria, powered by two Lynch pattern inboard electric motors supplied by Solarboat. |
Commonly the electric energy is stored in batteries. These may be re-charged from on-shore mains power, solar panels, wind generators, an engine driven generator or a combination of these. In future developments such as fuel cells may avoid the need for batteries, but at present they provide the best way of storing electric energy for later use. If the main power source supplies power to the motor at the same time as the batteries we call the boat "hybrid electric drive".
Solarboat specialises in boats generally between about 4.5m (14-15ft) to 14m (45ft) long. These are used for commercial purposes including "Hire and drive", tour ferries and tenders, or as privately owned pleasure boats.
For more information on electric boating you may download the following information sheets:
What
do these boats have in common? Choice
of boat type. Electric
Boat considerations.
 150,000 tonne Cunard ocean liner Queen Mary 2 powered by four 11MW
submersible electric pod motors (see inset for a close-up of these immensely
powerful beasts - the aft two motors are also used to steer the boat -
there is no rudder).
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OF COURSE NEITHER OF THESE VESSELS IS A SOLARBOAT PRODUCT! |
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Collins Class submarine - diesel electric, an electric boat when
submerged below periscope depth.