Electric Boating History
Electric boats have been around since the 1880’s. One of the first marine outboard motors, designed by French electrical engineer Gustave Trouve, was electric. During the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893 electric boats built by the Electric Launch Company (ELCO) were used to transport more than a million people around the Chicago waterways during the fair. Many notables in both the USA and England owned electric launches as they were far more reliable and provided a smoother ride than steam-powered boats.
Turn of the century London was home to more than a hundred electric launches. Many boatbuilders could fit out electric motors and electric boats were for hire on the river Thames.
From the 1920’s onwards the petrol motor (or ‘explosion engines’ as they were initially called) became more popular and saw people fuelling their boats with the faster technology. The development of the internal combustion engine and the effects of World War I marked the end of electric and steam propulsion for boats. Electric boats could not keep up with the performance that petrol engines offered, and people became more interested in speed rather than enjoying the essence of boating; a relaxing and social event.
Throughout the following decades however, Navy submarines that have been driven by electric motors since before the First World War continued to rely on electric propulsion. There was very little interest in electric boats, until the 1970’s when manufacturers such as the Duffy Electric Boat Co. started to design and built electric boats that were perfectly suited for protected waterways.
Even commercial vessels are now returning to electric drive because it is fundamentally efficient, quiet and reliable. Today’s best example is the 150,000 tonne Cunard liner Queen Mary 2, which is driven by 4 powerful ‘pod’ style motors, powered by generators.
Better underwater hull designs, lighter fiberglass constructions, improved motors and batteries and electronic control and recharge systems have given birth to a new generation electric vessels which is already contributing more to environmentally friendly pleasure boating for the 21st century.
The past may have been electric, but electricity could also help us create a pollution- free, fossil fuel-free future. Already a number of governments worldwide are banning petrol and diesel engines from some of their waterways. Electric boats are becoming commonplace on Europe’s lakes and rivers. And a growing number of sailors seriously consider using electric drive as a direct alternative to diesel engines in offshore cruising yachts.
As the technology advances it will allow for more electric drive applications in the marine industry in the near future.