Five Reasons Electric Propulsion Makes Sense

We’ve all watched the number of electric vehicles on the road slowly increase; it was the introduction of Tesla on the market in 2008 that radically accelerated the awareness and adoption of consumer EVs.  

The now aggressive EV infrastructure goals, shifts towards more climate friendly policies and regulations, and continued improvements around battery range and vehicle technology are allowing for a steeper acceleration in the transition to cleaner energy on our roadways.

The marine world lags behind EV on land; however, over the past 12 to 18 months, there has been a rapid increase in both boat building and electric propulsion players offering EV marine products.  

As a commercial fleet operator, the demands you put onto your vessels can be intense. Business fleets tend to operate at 10-15x the load of the typical recreational boater. This means more maintenance, and more frequent repowering with new motors.

Here’s why to consider making the shift to EV now:

1. Economics: The rising costs of gas and the need for frequent maintenance contribute to increasing pressures on commercial marine operators.  Photon’s electric propulsion systems (the P300 and the P80) reduce the total cost of ownership by nearly half for most of these businesses.  
2. Simplicity: Electric motors are generally simpler systems, often having only 10% of the number of parts as the existing ICE engines powering most fleets. This means no need for oil and gas changes, and much less overall maintenance for your fleets.  
3. Clean: No one loves the sheen sitting atop the water in busy marinas and congested waterways. Electric motors on commercial boat fleets eliminate the oil and gas spillage into the water.
4. Noise: Think back to a summer moment around the lake with friends, maybe it’s the July 4th holiday. Undoubtedly, you experienced a great deal of background noise on the water. ICE motors create noticeable noise pollution, disturbing those on and around the water, as well as those creatures below the surface. By contrast, electric motors are very quiet.
5. Carbon Footprint: We’re living amidst a climate crisis, requiring every industry and household to rethink choices and behaviors. Industries relying on oil and gas must evaluate clean energy transitions as all businesses will need to get to net-zero emissions in the year ahead. Switching to electric propulsion can meaningfully contribute to the decarbonization of marine waterways and ensure businesses thrive in the future.

Today’s commercial operators are facing many operational challenges, and the financial and environmental climate are making it an even more sensible time to consider the clean energy transition to electric propulsion.  

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