Flux electric outboards get European certification and new US senior sales team

August 27, 2026 Jeff Butler 0 Comments Flux, i-RIB

Europe is the world’s most advanced market for recreational marine electrification, while the US market is ripe for change as gasoline prices soar and more solar and wind generation capacity comes online daily.

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With EU approval of the FM115 electric outboard from Flux Marine of Rhode Island and a new electric propulsion veteran joining Flux as Senior Field Sales Manager in the US, the company is now well positioned to be a player on both sides of the Atlantic pond.

EU certification because of extensive real usage data

The FM115 European debut comes aboard the iRIB-7 hull from Austrian boatyard i-RIB. The motor is coupled with Flux’s submersion-proof IP67-rated 28 kWh modular battery packs and is available on the i-RIB with 2 or 3 packs to create 56 kWh or 84 kWh of electricity storage.

iRIB founders Thomas and Michael Salzl were impressed by the technology, power, and price of the FM115, but were a bit overwhelmed by what was needed to get the US motor into the German market. So Flux took matters into their own hands.

“Boatbuilders don’t want to become electric propulsion specialists” said Ben Sorkin, co-founder and CEO of Flux. “They want to give their customers an electric option without rebuilding their business around it. We did the engineering and the compliance for the EU paperwork, which was relatively simple because the 115 isn’t a prototype, it’s a proven system”

Flux says the FM115 is the leading high-horsepower all-electric outboard in North America by units delivered and has more than 50,000 kilometres logged by real customers in salt and fresh water over the past four years. It has undergone real-world validation spanning thousands of hours of beta motor testing in 2023 and 2024 as well as two full commercial seasons since.

Drop-in replacement for 115 HP gas outboard

The motor was designed as a drop-in replacement for a 115 hp (86 kW) gasoline outboard. Flux engineers started with a blank sheet of paper and a single question: What would an electric marine propulsion system look like if you didn’t have any constraints? The resulting motor mounts on a standard transom, uses existing steering and rigging hardware, and integrates with familiar Garmin chartplotter screens through a native Flux interface.

No oil to change, no impellers to replace, no carburetors to clog, no winterization rituals…you can read about its many features and benefits in this Plugboats article (link below) about a Flux-equipped Scout 215 XSF

Read: A great combo – Flux Marine electric OB and the Scout 215 XSF

Europe is far ahead of the US in the number of electric powered boats available, partly because of a different style of boating and partly because of regulations, some of which were introduced as far back as the 1980s. On many lakes and canals, including Lake Neusiedl, which is home to iRIB, emission-spewing fossil fuel motors are banned or restricted to certain hours or areas.

US ready to grow with senior electric propulsion specialist

In the United States the e-boat market is growing, but awareness and getting hands-on experience is a bit of a challenge. That’s where the new Flux hire comes in.

Chris Ponnwitz has joined the company as Senior Field Sales Manager, with responsibility for revenue growth across boat builder partnerships, dealer network expansion, and direct and commercial sales channels.

Chris was formerly with Mack Boring, the century-old marine propulsion distributor. He started in gas and diesel motor sales, but has spent the last few years as Chief Commercial Officer of Mack Sustainable Energy, the company’s electric propulsion division.

“I’ve been following Flux Marine closely for the past few years and watching their electric outboards develop from a concept into a proven commercial option” said Ponnwitz. “This technology gives us a real edge and we’re on the verge of rapid growth. I look forward to working with the passionate Flux team and giving more customers the opportunity to switch to electric propulsion.”

“Building out our sales organization is one of our highest priorities and Chris’s proven track record in marine electric propulsion makes him the perfect fit for Flux Marine” said Daylin Frantin, Flux co-founder and CFO/COO. “Chris has spent a decade leading commercial strategy in this industry, and he’s the right person to introduce our products to customers, dealers, and marine industry partners,”

The senior sales leadership Chris has shown will play an integral role in new business development, representing Flux Marine at industry events and boat shows. This will enable Flux Marine to expand growth of its network of boat builder partners, dealers, and commercial customers across North America and now, Europe.