WaVeS #24 electric boat and boating news
Plugboats WAVES (Watts, Amps, Volts, Electrons) is a regular collection of electric boat and boating news items that we have written about before and are updating, or items we are going to write about but are waiting for more information / developments – or items that are just tidbits you might find interesting.
Here is WaVeS #24, with electric boat and boating news about:
- H3X, manufacturer of high density electric motors, raises $20M / €18M
- Harris Boats getting into electric pontoon market
- Elco electric boat motors now connectable to NMEA display units
- Lyman-Morse boatyard to to build Halevais electric tritoons
- ePropulsion launches Commercial focussed business unit
- Pure Watercraft in receivership, selling assets
H3 X High density electric motors raise $20M / €18M
H3X, the Denver Colorado based manufacturer of high power density electric motors for aircraft, boats and other industrial sectors, has raised a $20 million oversubscribed Series A round in August led by Infinite Capital. Other investors include Hanwha Asset Management, Cubit Capital, Origin Ventures, Industrious Ventures and Venn10 Capital. Previous investor TechNexus Venture Collaborative provided follow-on capital, along with Lockheed Martin Ventures, Metaplanet and Liquid 2 Ventures.
H3X motors have an extremely high power density of 12 kiloWatts per kilogram and the technology can be scaled from 30 kW to 30 megaWatts: ≈40 hp to 40,000 hp. Their HPDM-250 packs 200kW (≈275 hp) into an 18kg (40 lb) package and combines the electric motor, inverter, and gearbox in a single unit. The HPDM-30 has a continuous power rating of 33 kW (45 hp) and a mass of only 4.1 kg (9 lb). The motors are manufactured at the company’s 17,000 sq-ft headquarters in Denver.
Jason Sylvestre, co-founder and CEO of H3X, said “We’re on an ambitious journey to become the world’s leading supplier of advanced electric motors. With remarkable speed, we’ve proven that this technology works and has a key role to play in enabling sustainable aviation, decarbonizing the marine and industrial sectors, and unlocking next-generation electrified defense technology.”
Harris Boats launching historic company’s 1st all-electric pontoon
Harris Boats, a leading pontoon builder founded in 1956 when they created the “FloteBote” – the world’s first assembly line-manufactured pontoon boat – is launching its first all-electric pontoon in 2025. The Cruiser e-210 promises to provide the same level of comfort, amenities and style that the company’s regular Cruiser model is known for, but will be powered by an ell-electric Mercury Avator 35e Outboard.
With a length of 23’2″ (7 m), the Cruiser e-210 can comfortably carry 12 passengers enjoying the popular SLDH layout, which offers a rear-facing lounger with dual-helm chairs. The launch includes a variety of exterior, accent and vinyl options to choose from.
“Our first all-electric pontoon represents an exciting milestone for the Harris brand,” said Brian Athmer, President, Harris Boats. “Designed, engineered, and tested as an integrated system in partnership with Mercury Marine, we are thrilled to offer our customers the Cruiser e-210. A silent, efficient, and cost competitive electric pontoon boat, it is also uncompromising in the features and luxury craftsmanship Harris is known for. Early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive with the e-210, and we look forward to continuing to build upon our electric offerings across our lineup.”
The Cruiser e-210 will be on display at several early 2025 boat shows, including the Minneapolis and Detroit Boat Shows. (Check the Plugboats Directory of Boat Shows for dates and information on all boat shows with electric exhibitors.)
Elco electric boat motors now NMEA 200 (N2K) certified
US electric boat motor manufacturer Elco has announced that it has NMEA 2000 (N2K) certification on all its electric inboard and outboard motors, bringing turn-key integration to to mainstream production boats. NMEA 2000 / NMEA2k / N2K is a plug-and-play communications standard used for connecting marine sensors and display units within ships and boats.
By connecting an Elco motor to a N2K network backbone, primary propulsion data such as speed, RPM and remaining battery charge are graphically displayed on a vessel’s networked multifunction display, without the need for programming or additional gateways. The data can also be networked into N2K-compatible analog gauges.
Flexibility is built into the system by simplified plug-and-play connections and it additionally monitors critical system data such as remaining runtime and nautical miles, voltage and current. The company says its motors will also link with the energy technology best suited to each specific application, whether it be lithium, AGM or the latest solid-state batteries offering more power with half the weight.
Elco electric motors for sale in Plugboats Marketplace
Halevai model2050 electric boats to be built by Lyman-Morse
US electric boat company Halevai has partnered with Maine boat builder Lyman-Morse to build their model2050 all-electric tritoon day boats. The powertrain for the boat has been developed in concert with Hypercraft of Utah and uses a Mercury Alpha One sterndrive / inboard-outboard unit.
The addition of Lyman-Morse to the team means that the model2050 will benefit form the experience of a company that has built more than 110 yachts over the past 45 years, from carbon-fibre ocean racers to luxurious motor yachts and cold-molded Spirit of Tradition sloops.
Read about the development of the Halevai model2050
“Lyman-Morse means precision” said Frank Heidinger, Founder and CEO of Halevai. “Working with such an expert team only supports our vision to advance our scale more quickly. They understand our ambition and vision and are totally aligned. We look forward to developing new design models with Lyman-Morse and continuing to set the highest standard for the electric boating community.”
Drew Lyman, President of Lyman-Morse, said that the company is constantly looking for ways to push the boundaries of what people expect in their boats, and that “This partnership with Halevai is perfectly in line with our mission to bring together the finest design, technology, and craftsmanship in boats that help more people enjoy time on the water with family and friends.”
Halevai Hypercraft Lyman-Morse
Halavai model2050 in Plugboats Marketplace
ePropulsion launches new commercial business unit.
Established in 2012 at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, ePropulsion has become one of the top names in recreational electric propulsion worldwide. At Hamburg’s SMM Shipbuilding Fair they announced the formation of a new business unit that will focus on commercial boats and electrifying that sector.
Until 2021 ePropulsion focused exclusively on outboard and pod electric motors, In 2022 they launched their first line of consumer inboard motors – the I-Series of motors from 10-49 kW (≈15 – 60 hp) – and followed that up with the H-Series of inboards with power from 60 – 250 kW (≈80 – 350 hp).
All inboards include a number of ePropulsion features that make them especially suitable for commercial use: their proprietary Energy Storage System (ESS), DC Bus technology, Power and Energy Management System (PEMS), charging solutions, automation and intelligent technology.
After completing over 20 projects for commercial marine clients, and with another 20 project in progress, it was a natural step to initiate a full commercial division. Completed projects range from passenger ferries, luxury power catamarans and work boats to patrol boats and bulk cargo ships.
ePropulsion Commercial has established a project management and delivery team to provide its worldwide customers with an efficient and high-quality project delivery experience, covering the entire process from conceptual design, prototype approval, procurement, production, testing, installation, and commissioning to complete delivery.
“Establishing a business unit dedicated to developing our commercial offerings was obviously the next evolution of our brand,” said Danny Tao, Co-Founder and CEO of ePropulsion. “Our technology has always been designed with safety, durability, efficiency and scalability in mind, allowing us to reach customers regardless of their needs or mission. We look forward to the projects on the horizon and our growth in this vital segment.”
ePropulsion H-Series
ePropulsion motors for sale in Plugboats Marketplace
Pure Watercraft receivership trustee selling assets
The technology and startup news website TechCrunch has reported that electric motor and boat manufacturer Pure Watercraft is “being sold for parts.”
Pure entered receivership in July, a process that protects struggling companies from being forced into bankruptcy. When in receivership, a trustee is legally appointed to oversee its assets and business operations. Court documents show millions of dollars of inventory, various manufacturing equipment and boat parts and the trustee can decide at some point that selling off some of those assets is best for the company and its creditors, and it seems that is what is happening here.
Pure Watercraft was founded in 2011 and developed its own electric outboard and battery system, then teamed with some established boat builders to offer boat packages. In June 2021 they acquired Elux Marine, a Minnesota company that had developed a luxury pontoon-type boat two years previously. In November 2021 General Motors acquired a 25% stake in the company.
Shortly thereafter the Pure Pontoon was announced, a new style dayboat that combined a GM concept e-boat shown at the 2019 Detroit Boat with the Pure motors. In August of 2022 Gov. Jim Justice of West Virginia announced that the states had executed an agreement with Pure for them to set up a factory in an 80,000-square-foot production facility at the Beech Bottom Industrial Park, a revitalized former steel plant on the banks of the Ohio River.
Just two years later the company filed for receivership in King County, Washington, where it is based, and in August Pure’s Customer Relationship Manager, Arne Landboe, issued a statement saying “Pure Watercraft has, unfortunately, ceased operations in Brooke County, although we are not prepared at this time to give an explanation for this course of events.”
TechCrunch reports that the receivership document “…describes numerous creditors, from individual investors to banks to the big one, GM, which put approximately $35 million into the venture.” TC notes that the investment was not all cash: “Listed among Pure’s assets is some $25 million worth of “manufacturing support,” “know-how,” licensing of the name, and other forms of non-pecuniary goods.”
Beyond GM, the list of creditors includes individual investors, auto dealerships, banks, and most disappointingly, hundreds of customers who put down $100 deposits.
Discover more from Plugboats
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
