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Marine

The 30 hp Aquawatt - the world's most powerful electric outboard motor

By Mike Hanlon
April 28, 2011
The 30 hp Aquawatt - the world's most powerful electric outboard motor
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Two versions of the Aquawatt motor are available - 20 hp (13 kw) and the 30 hp (22 kw), both driven by AC motors and powered by 48 V or 80 V LIFEPO4 batteries.
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Two versions of the Aquawatt motor are available - 20 hp (13 kw) and the 30 hp (22 kw), both driven by AC motors and powered by 48 V or 80 V LIFEPO4 batteries.
The new 30hp engine can achieve speeds of more than 50km/h with a four metre boat.
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The new 30hp engine can achieve speeds of more than 50km/h with a four metre boat.
The 30 hp Aquawatt is three times more powerful than any other electric outboard available from another manufacturer according to Aquawatt
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The 30 hp Aquawatt is three times more powerful than any other electric outboard available from another manufacturer according to Aquawatt
The 30 hp Aquawatt with the engine cowl removed
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The 30 hp Aquawatt with the engine cowl removed
Spec sheet for the new 30 hp Aquawatt motor
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Spec sheet for the new 30 hp Aquawatt motor
View gallery - 6 images

Champions of clean emission boating will be thrilled to know that rapid progress is being made in the field and much larger boats can now be powered by electric motors than ever before. Australian electric outboard motor specialist All4Solar has announced a 30 hp version of its Aquawatt electric motor which will become the most powerful electric outboard motor in the world. Due for launch at next month's Sanctuary Cove Boat Show on Australia's Gold Coast, the 30 hp (22 kw) Aquawatt is claimed to be three times more powerful than any other manufacturer's electric outboard.

Two versions of the Aquawatt motor are available – 20 hp (13 kw) and the 30 hp (22 kw), both driven by AC motors and powered by 48 V or 80 V LIFEPO4 batteries. As All4Solar's name suggests, it can also sell all the gear to enable the batteries to be charged by photovoltaic solar panels, with a charger from the grid or by generator. Anyone who operates a petrol outboard in a marine environment will no doubt be eager to finally have a viable alternative to existing petrol engines for larger boats. Electric outboards are more cost efficient to run, much quieter, are maintenance free and generate no hazardous emission at all.

The new 30hp engine can achieve speeds of more than 50 km/h (31 mph) with a four meter boat.

Champions of clean emission boating will be thrilled to know that rapid progress is being made in the field and much larger boats can now be powered by electric motors than ever before. Australian electric outboard motor specialist All4Solar has announced a 30 hp version of its Aquawatt electric motor which will become the most powerful electric outboard motor in the world. Due for launch at next month's Sanctuary Cove Boat Show on Australia's Gold Coast, the 30 hp (22 kw) Aquawatt is claimed to be three times more powerful than any other manufacturer's electric outboard.

Two versions of the Aquawatt motor are available – 20 hp (13 kw) and the 30 hp (22 kw), both driven by AC motors and powered by 48 V or 80 V LIFEPO4 batteries. As All4Solar's name suggests, it can also sell all the gear to enable the batteries to be charged by photovoltaic solar panels, with a charger from the grid or by generator. Anyone who operates a petrol outboard in a marine environment will no doubt be eager to finally have a viable alternative to existing petrol engines for larger boats. Electric outboards are more cost efficient to run, much quieter, are maintenance free and generate no hazardous emission at all.

The new 30hp engine can achieve speeds of more than 50 km/h (31 mph) with a four meter boat.

View gallery - 6 images

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MarineOutboard MotorElectric VehiclesBoatsAll4SolarWorld's Most Powerful
19 comments
Mike Hanlon
Mike Hanlon
As a photojournalist, Mike’s work has been published in a dozen languages across 20+ countries. He has edited or managed over 75 different print publications, each with a different target audience: sports, automotive, advertising, marketing, design, ad infinitum. Mike has been working in the internet for more than 25 years and was the veteran of five internet start-ups before founding New Atlas in 2002.

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19 comments
Jonathan Hatfield
Awesome! About time... Now get the price down and I\'ll take one.
Frank191
Be subsequent in your toughts. You cannot say that the batteries can be charged by a generator (probably a gasoline generator) and that the boat \"generate no hazardous emission at all\". How about the grid. Only solar and wind power in Australia? Not sure at all. What about the amount of petrol necessary to produce the solar panels?
That electric engine is a very good step towards the use of renewable energies, but please, don\'t say it generates \"no hazardous emission at all\". We live in a world of compromises and electric engines are a way to reduce the emissions. Not eliminate them.
Burnerjack
@Frank 191: You seem to a penchat for accuracy. That\'s OK. so, to help you out, you should know that petrol engines are heat devices, therefore they are ENGINES. consequently, electric engines are DYNAMOS, there fore, they are accurately referred to as MOTORS. More than mere semantics, I assure you. Just trying to help...
EGM
Frank191: YOU\'RE WRONG!!!

Electric motors \"generate no hazardous emission at all\" is accurate.

The article is NOT referring to the electricity used to charge the batteries.

If the article was referring to the electricity source, the emissions would depend on where you are on the grid. For example, in British Columbia - Canada, the grid is supplied by HYDROPOWER which \"generates no hazardous emission at all\".

We also have plenty of beautiful and natural lakes & rivers to run our \"electric\" boats, while \"generating no hazardous emission at all\".
Hmm_OK
If I could get into my wooden hand carved kayack and stick my non-polluting wooden oar in here, it all depends on your point of view, this electric outboard motor has non-hazardous emissions at the time and place of use.

How the power is generated and how the batteries, motor, housings, cables, boat itself, etc were made and the materials sourced, as well as where and how they will be disposed of at their end of life, is something completely different.

(It is perhaps something All4solar could look at - if they are not already - and further improve on these motor\'s \'green\' credentials)

In the marine environment where these motors are intended for use they have non-hazardous emissions, and as Frank191 says, its a good start.

Its good to see that people are aware of, and raising the issues with the bigger picture as well.
Michael Mantion
Kinda getting sick of all this electric crap. Has there been some sort of major advancement in batteries that makes electric transportation remotely useful to the real world?
Seriously Gizmag, can we take a break with the electric modes of transportation.
Douglas Shackelford
The discussion here is (maybe) interesting, but also (probably) not valuable. Energy is energy and the source is the source. Other concerns for electric motors, engines or dynamos (take your pick of terminology for most of us) are around the raw material sourcing, manufacturing, recycling and disposal of the batteries themselves.
No matter what the technology used, in the end, it will be the commercial application that determines the acceptance in the marketplace. And the marketplace will determine its ultimate utilization.
Now I\'m wondering how big and fast a boat we could build with multiple engines, say 3 across the stern. Add in a turbine engine generator burning bio-based renewable fuels, for longer trips to minimize the battery demand...now we\'re starting to have a conversation.
John M
We all know it takes energy to make things. Electric motors & other devices generate no pollution whatsoever when being used.
Lets get real, any device that produces no pollution has got to be good for us & the environment. Cheers John McManus
Frank191
Ok, ok, I apoligise, I should have differenciated the motor itself from its energy source (thanks Burnerjack, as you probably guessed, english is my second language). I hold on my opinion though. The motor does not generate any poluant right at the place it is used, but the source of electricity is still a problem. @ EGM : I come from Canada me too. Québec it is. 98% of our electricity is hydropower. That\'s very good, but it provides electricity for 40% of Canada. And Canada is 0.4% of the world population. The rest of the world relies on petrol and nuclear for energy.
Still, nice idea to fit an electric motor in an outboard shape. Makes it easier to switch it between different boats or to go at places where the water is not deep. Very good to access fragile ecosystems too.
landbankspain
Well done AQUAWATT another great Australian innovation ! Super quiet and clean for sneaking up on the wildlife for film production amongst many other uses like tourism on dams and lakes and pristine environments,the excess power production when motor is in OFF mode (sitting at anchor or on the beach) can be used for mobile devices,desal water production,refrigeration (cold tinnies and food), and sat transmission.
This tender or larger may be fitted with 2-3 m2 of high yield PV solar panels ( roller flex PV also) on a high tube frame (shade from the sun) plus an Aerogen or 2 and an in-water gen drag line, eventually a hydrogen mini fuel cell ( we are sitting in H2O after all) with a gas separation catalyst powered by the power gen units ,the H2 stored in carbon fiber tanks and Nano balls, unlimited range (until the beer runs out) All existing tech, just needs to be applied.... OYOYOY Go OZ...show the world what we do best..Invent and out of the box innovation....ref http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/world-changing-aussie-inventions.htm !
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