FAQs

No. The E-Series batteries can only connect in parallel.

Always power the master battery on/off first, not the secondary batteries. If the secondary battery is powered on/off before the master battery damage or reduced usable capacity may occur.

A lithium-ion polymer (LiPo) battery (also known as Li-poly, lithium-poly, PLiON, and other names) is a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery with a polymer electrolyte in the liquid electrolyte used in conventional Li-ion batteries. The integrated batteries in the Spirit 1.0 Plus, Spirit 1.0 Evo and eLite electric outboards.

There are a variety of LiPo chemistries available. All use a high conductivity gel polymer as the electrolyte. LiPos provide higher specific energies than other lithium batteries, often used in systems where weight is an important factor, such as mobile devices, drones, and some electric vehicles. Because of this higher energy density, LiPo batteries are generally more expensive.

While ePropulsion batteries are always recommended (for multiple reasons), the Navy 3.0 and Navy 6.0 are compatible with 3rd-party batteries as long as they meet the following specs:

• Type: Lead-acid or Lithium
• Rated voltage: 48V
• Minimum voltage: 39V
• Maximum voltage: 60V
• Minimum continuous discharge current: 28A
• Maximum continuous discharge current: 62.5A or greater (Navy 3.0) / 125A or greater (Navy 6.0)
• Internal resistance: <100 mΩ

For a more complete discussion regarding what to know about 3rd-party batteries for Navy outboard motors, see our article here.

Yes, many 3rd-party solar panels can be used as long as they meet the following specs:

• 100W to 180W
• Operating voltage of 12V to 35V
• Maximum of 10A
• MC4 connectors

To connect a 3rd-party solar panel, you’ll need the solar charge controller.

Yes, you can have a solar panel permanently connected and be charging while you’re using it or while you’re not.

Yes! E-Series batteries are 48V DC (direct current). If the device that need to be charged is also DC, you need a DC-DC converter that converts 48V to the required voltage (usually 12V).

No. For parallel connection, E-series batteries can only be connected to the same model of the same age because they have different Battery Management Systems and different cell configurations.

No! Third-party chargers cannot be used for warranty and safety reasons.

ePropulsion batteries are designed for maximum efficiency, performance and safety. Using 3rd-party batteries does not allow for the use of the communication cable which brings data accuracy to the gauge and ensures useful operating strategy for safety and performance.

Finally, if there’s an issue with the motor, using a genuine ePropulsion battery ensures the warranty won’t be voided by use of a 3rd-party battery.

All this being said, many boaters successfully utilize 3rd-party batteries without issues.

While no mining process can be deemed entirely environmentally friendly, whether it’s for resources like tin, copper, coal, or oil, it’s essential to understand the broader context. Humans have been engaged in mining and drilling activities for thousands of years, particularly in the recent past for oil, which has been extensively used for powering vehicles, producing plastics, and generating various non-recyclable by-products in the developed world.

The oil industry, in particular, has witnessed several significant environmental catastrophes due to mishaps at drilling sites or transportation errors, causing extensive harm to oceans and ecosystems.

In contrast, there have been no recorded incidents where lithium mining or its transportation led to the contamination of the world’s oceans.

Absolutely!

All ePropulsion LiFePO4 batteries boast a remarkably long lifespan with at least 3000 charge cycles, translating to a potential 20-30 years before reaching their end of life.

When that time comes, they are fully recyclable. These batteries can be either repurposed for another role or reconditioned for continued use. Unlike oil and its by-products like sulphur, once the materials in a LiFePO4 battery are used, they can be recycled and utilized again and again.

ePropulsion uses high-quality cells in their batteries, unlike some e-bike manufacturers who are only trying to meet a low price point. This is one of the reasons that ePropulsion batteries seem relatively expensive—they are well-designed.

The most significant risk associated with any high capacity battery is “thermal runaway“, where a battery enters an uncontrollable, self-heating state. This is mitigated with using high-quality lithium cells and a good integrated battery management system (BMS), which ePropulsion batteries have.

Most problems with lithium batteries result from using a battery after it has been physically damaged or using a charger that isn’t compatible with that battery. If your battery becomes physically damaged, do not use it until it has been serviced by a professional.

Use only your original charger to charge your battery.

ePropulsion offers a smart battery management system that automatically stops the battery from charging once it reaches 100%. It’s not necessary to stop the battery from charging overnight, but batteries are large and store significant energy. Although ePropulsion batteries are lithium polymer, which are safer than lithium ion batteries, any large battery pose a certain amount of risk of catching fire, so we recommend not charging while unattended or overnight.

Spirit Battery Plus batteries take about 8 hours with the standard charger, or about 3.5 hours with the fast charger.

Yes, as long as you have an external battery cable. ePropulsion recommends a second Spirit Battery Plus or their 48v E-Series batteries if you need more range. If you’d like to keep your motor looking good without the Spirit battery mounted on top, you can also purchase a motor cowling.

The Spirit battery does not need to be connected to a Spirit outboard in order to charge. You can charge your battery with a regular 110V outlet using the standard charger or fast charger. A standard charger is included with the Spirit 1.0 Plus or Evo electric outboard.

The Spirit battery can also be charged with a solar panel (such as the foldable 180W solar panel) using a solar charge controller, or with a 12 volt charger.

No, you can purchase a power extension cable and store the battery elsewhere. You can also purchase a motor cowling to keep your Spirit outboard looking good.

Yes, although we recommend using genuine ePropulsion batteries with ePropulsion motors. In addition, the hydrogeneration feature of the Spirit 1.0 Evo and Navy Evo motors will not work with 3rd-party batteries.

For the 3rd-party batteries specs, the nominal battery rated voltage should be 48V, and the continuous discharge current should be over 62.5A (Navy 3.0 Evo and Pod Drive 3.0 Evo), and 125A (Navy 6.0 Evo and Pod Drive 6.0 Evo). To ensure at least one hour duration, the battery capacity should reach at least 3000Wh or 6000Wh.

When powered by 3rd-party batteries, the ePropulsion motor cannot access the real-time battery status nor apply the best operation strategy.

If any malfunction occurred due to the 3rd party batteries, the warranty would not apply.

There are a number of factors that can impact the lifespan of your ePropulsion Spirit battery, which include:

• Avoid regularly depleting the battery less than 20%: If you regularly run your battery below 20%, it will decrease the lifespan of your battery. We recommend charging your battery when it reaches 20% whenever possible. It’s OK to occasionally deplete it to as low as 5% but try not to fully deplete it. You can always purchase a second Spirit Battery Plus if you need more range.
• Employ good charging habits: While it’s good practice not to deplete your battery less than 20%, it’s better for the battery health to deplete to a 20% to 50% charge before charging it. If you regularly charge your battery when it’s already at 60% or more it will reduce the lifespan.
• Avoid temperature extremes: Avoid storing your battery at below freezing temperatures. ePropulsion recommends storing your battery in a dry location with an ambient temperature between 15°C (59°F) and 25°C (77°F). The battery should always be charged at between 5°C (41°F) and 30°C (86°F). Never use your battery to power the motor when the temperature is below -10°C (14°F) or above 60°C (140°F). Charging, discharging and storing your ePropulsion Spirit Plus battery within moderate temperatures within the ranges above will help maximize the battery’s lifespan.
• Keep is semi-charged over the winter: Before storing your battery for the winter, charge it to over 60%. The battery will slowly discharge until it hits 60%. When the battery has not been used in a while and hits 60% charge, it will go into deep sleep mode. In deep sleep mode, the battery self discharges more slowly than normal. To wake it up in the Spring, simply plug the battery into the charger. It is recommended that you plug in the battery once every three months when not in use in order to check the state of charge. If it has fallen much below 60%, repeat the step above. If you store your battery for a long period of time with less than 60% charge, it may self discharge to 0%. If the battery deeply discharges to a true zero percent charge, it will not be able to be recovered and you will need to purchase a new battery.

ePropulsion Spirit batteries are rated for at least 500 cycles at 80% depth of discharge (DoD). This means that you should expect to be able to use your ePropulsion Spirit at least 500 times, running the battery from 100% to 20% each time. Most users will find that they use less than 80% of the battery each outing, and can thus expect more than 500 cycles.

All lithium batteries degrade over time, losing about 1% to 3% of their capacity each year. There are a number of factors that can impact the lifespan of your ePropulsion battery, but if you take good care of it, you can expect to get about 7 years of useful life from the battery. After about 7 years, the battery will likely still be usable, but will have significantly less capacity than it did when it was new. At this point, you can purchase a new battery.

Yes, it can be, however once you go over the wattage that the charger is producing it will shut off the charging feature. For example, the solar charge controller can produce up to 100W. If you stay at a speed where the output is less than 100W (i.e. 1/5 of total power output) it will slowly charge. Once you go over 100W, the charger will stop charging until you back off the throttle to less than 100W output.

Hydrogeneration is used to create electricity and is used in hydroelectric power stations and an electric vehicle’s regenerative braking system. During hydrogeneration, water passively spins the propeller on the motor which generates electricity through electromagnetic induction.

ePropulsion is the first motor manufacturer to introduce hydrogenation into their motors.

On a sailboat with an ePropulsion electric motor, it requires the boat to be moving on it’s own from the wind, and travelling at a minimum of 4 knots. If you’re travelling greater than 19 knots, hydrogeneration is automatically disabled to prevent the motor from overcharging.

Hydrogeneration is available with the Spirit 1.0 Evo, Navy 3.0 Evo, Navy 6.0 Evo or an Pod Drive 6.0 Evo motor (the folding propeller is not compatible). It requires a genuine ePropulsion battery.

To use hydrogeneration, place the Evo control in the neutral position, and turn on the hydrogeneration function in the control setting (which is on by default). The motor remains in a power-on state.
Hydrogeneration will automatically stop once the battery has reached a 90% charge.

Yes, you can have a solar panel permanently connected and be charging while you’re using it or while you’re not.

Yes, all ePropulsion outboards are designed for use in saltwater. ePropulsion uses high-quality, aerospace-grade aluminum alloy, which is naturally highly-resistant to corrosion, as the base material.

Protective Coatings

On top of the aluminum alloy are two protective coatings. An anodic oxide coating (anodizing) is applied to aluminum alloy, and then it’s powder coated.

Pod drives require additional corrosion protection since they remain submerged in saltwater for years at a time. A hard anodic oxidation coating and Teflon coating to replace the normal anodic oxide coating and the powder coating.

Metal Connectors

To improve the connector durability, Spirit 1.0 Plus and Spirit 1.0 Evo feature a metal connector between the power cable and the battery. The base material is stainless steel, and PVD (Physical vapor deposition) processing is applied to the connector. PVD coating is harder and more corrosion resistant than coatings applied by a standard electroplating process. So after hundreds of times connecting and unplugging, the metal connector can still be corrosion-resistant.

Anodes

Sacrificial zinc anodes add further corrosion protection, and can be easily replaced as needed.

Tips for Keeping Your Electric Motor Corrosion-Resistant in Saltwater

Don’t keep your outboard immersed in saltwater permanently. Remove it from the water after each use and rinse it with fresh water. It’s so light and quick to remove (and even quicker if it’s an eLite!) and there is no fuel smell or fumes to worry about, so there’s really no excuse not to stow away indoors once it’s dry.

It’s also important to avoid scratches that could damage the protective coatings. If you happen to scratch the motor body, contact us (and include a photo of it) for inspection. Early damage control and repair will prevent it from getting worse.

Electric outboards eliminate the need for oil changes, fuel filter replacements, and spark plug maintenance, making them significantly easier to care for than combustion outboards.

ePropulsion electric outboards require minimal regular upkeep. Maintenance primarily involves rinsing with freshwater after it has been in saltwater.

When used regularly during the season, it’s advisable to lightly coat the electrical contacts with WD40 once a month. Ensure you cover the cable ends and Spirit battery ports with caps when disconnected.

Similar to gasoline outboards, ePropulsion models come with zinc anodes that should be replaced after significant wear. However, electric outboards don’t need winterizing, though proper battery storage is essential. Taking care of the battery of your electric outboard is crucial for its longevity.

Electric outboards don’t require winterization, but the battery should be charged to about 80% before winter storage. It is also advised to check the battery’s charge state every three months during long periods of inactivity.

Inspect the electrical connections of your motor for any corrosion or loose connections periodically. There are other similar maintenance duties you must should for an electric boat motor that you do for the traditional gas motors like checking the propellers and storing it properly.

Overall, electric outboard maintenance demands considerably less effort than that of gas boat motors.

Yes! We have partnered with Affirm to to let you buy now and pay later. You can choose to make 4 interest-free payments every 2 weeks or monthly instalments up to 36 months. Simply choose “Affirm” as the payment method at checkout. Note that a 6% fee is added to the purchase.

All ePropulsion electric outboard motors come with a standard 2-year warranty, with an additional year of warranty protection on all models except eLite if you register your motor with ePropulsion, for a total of 3 years.

The shaft length you require depends on the transom height of your boat. Take a look at ePropulsion’s shaft length guide to determine which shaft length you need. The Spirit 1.0 Plus is available with an extra short, short and long shaft. The Spirit 1.0 Evo and Navy Evo series are available with a short or long shaft.

Note that shaft lengths of electric outboards are measured differently than combustion outboards, so it’s important to double-check which shaft length is ideal for your boat.

Electric motors can be returned for a full refund if unopened and in the original packaging, anytime within 30 days of receipt. If opened, but undamaged (subject to our inspection) and with less than 10 minutes of use, you can return it for a full refund minus a 20% restocking fee within 30 days of receipt. See the Returns and Refund Policy page for full details.

We have a couple options available:

1. If you’re in or can get to Victoria, BC, we can arrange for a 30 minute demo during a sail on our 21′ sailboat where we have an electric outboard installed. Contact Us to book a demo.
2. You can rent the motor for as long as you want with our try-before-you-buy programme. You’ll get 80% of the rental cost applied to the purchase if you decide to keep it. Learn more.

Our number one goal is customer satisfaction. This is why we sell only one brand of electric motors—so we can be the experts you need. If you have a problem or a question about your purchase we will continue to provide support when you need us.

Local

If you are a local Victoria-area resident and can pickup and return the motor to us, you can rent for any number of full days (24-hour rental) or one or more weeks.

British Columbia

If you are a BC resident and require the unit to be shipped, you can rent for a minimum of 4 days. Transit time is not counted as rental days.

Canada

If you live outside BC, the minimum rental term is one week.

Just like renting a car, you assume responsibility for returning the electric motor in the same condition you received it, and must agree to pay for any loss or damage while in your possession. So if you break something, you’ll need to cover the cost of repair (or replacement if repair is not possible). If you lose it, you buy it!

To rent an electric motor you must:

• be over 18
• reside in Canada
• have a physical mailing address (P.O. boxes are not acceptable)

Your credit card will be authorized for the full value of the motor before the rental period begins, and re-authorized every seven days. At the end of the rental we’ll charge the actual number of days or weeks of the rental (unless you choose to keep it).

Keeping it past initial rental term

If you contact us and let us know you’d like to keep it for longer, we’ll charge the card for the extra duration you request (ex. 3 days, or 1 week).

If at any point the initial term has expired but it still has not been shipped back to us, we will begin charging the card for one day of rental for every day it remains unshipped.

If you continue to hang on to the motor, we’ll continue to charge according to how long it is being rented, up to 115% of the full purchase cost of the motor (at which point it is now consider sold to you).

Deciding to keep it

If you decide you’d like to keep the rental motor, it’s best to let us know as soon as possible to minimize further rental fees. As soon as you let us know your intention is to keep it, we will calculate your purchase cost (purchase price minus 80% of the rental fees you’ve paid so far), and charge your credit card. Once the transaction completes, you’ll receive a receipt and the motor is now yours. Your warranty begins now.

Returning the motor

Once the rental motor has been shipped back to us, we will stop any further rental billing. Once it is received back at our shop, our team will examine the motor for damage or loss of components.

• If the motor is still in perfect condition and nothing is missing, there will be no further charges.
• If there is damage that needs to be repaired or components that need to be replaced, we will charge your credit card the repair or replacement cost, as per the rental agreement.

Early returns

If it was returned earlier than you expected and the total rental term is less than what you’ve already paid, we will issue a credit to your credit card for the amount you paid minus the actual time it was rented.

Just as if you had purchased a new motor from us, if you encounter any issues, please let us know right away and we’ll help you out. If it’s a problem that prevents you from using the electric motor, we’ll ensure any days that you can’t use it don’t count toward your rental time.

You may find that after using your rental outboard, you love the idea of an electric outboard, but the one you really need is a step above (or below) what you rented. No problem—the 80% rental fee credit can apply to any electric motor. Just ship the rental unit back to us, and once we’ve assessed the unit for damage, we’ll provide you a coupon code that you can use on your purchase of the new motor.

In an effort to provide greater assurance and peace-of-mind to our customers, we are happy to offer Navidium Shipping Protection. Filing a claim with shipping carriers is usually painful, unhelpful and very time consuming. For just 5% of your order value, Navidium Shipping Protection covers you in the event that your package is lost or damaged.

When you purchase Navidum Shipping Protection, your order is covered against loss or damage after filing a simple claim with us. If the claim is approved, we will immediately send you a replacement, no questions asked. We will then spend the time to work with the carrier to recoup any reimbursement (which doesn’t always happen!) Essentially, the risk is transferred to us.

What We Deem as Lost

• Your tracking shows “in transit”, has not been marked delivered, and has not updated for 10 days since the last update.
• Your package was delivered by the carrier to the wrong address, even though you provided the correct address at the time of order.
• Shipments that have been determined lost by the carrier.

What We Deem as Damaged

• Your order is delivered and the item is materially damaged.
• Some of your order is missing due to the box/package opening during transit.

Damage is required to be documented with photos and/or video, to our satisfaction before a claim will be approved.

What’s not covered by Navidium Shipping Protection

• Missing packages or packages returned to sender due to the incorrect or insufficient address information provided at checkout when the order is placed.
• Delays in transit. When our customer service team is aware of delays due to weather or carrier logistics problems, we reserve the right to classify these packages as ‘delayed’ rather than lost.
• Unshipped items due to backorders or pre-orders.
• Orders stuck in customs – we cannot be held responsible for customs delays. Please get in touch with the carrier and pay required customs fees. If you refuse customs payments, we are not liable for any return to sender fees and these will be deducted from your refund.
• Items that are returned to us for a refund or exchange that are not in a resaleable condition.
• Packages that have been stolen after delivery.
• Packages that have already been replaced or refunded under Navidium Shipping Protection.

How to Submit Your Claim

If you have selected the Navidium Shipping Protection, please contact us at support@oceansev.com within 5 days. A member of our customer service team will assist you within 1-2 business days.

What to include in your claim email

• Subject line: “Shipping Protection Claim for order “. Your order number can be found on your order confirmation email.
• Description of issue.
• Photo or video evidence of damage if applicable.
• Any other useful information that supports your claim.
• We will continue to track your package. Should it appear, we will ask that the package be shipped back to us at our expense.

What happens after your claim has been submitted

• We will begin an investigation on the lost or damaged package.
• After your claim has been submitted, please allow us 7 business days to work on your claim.
• If the shipping claim is denied, there is nothing further that can be done.
• Once your claim has been approved, we will send you a replacement.

Terms and Conditions

Navidium Shipping Protection is optional, but by opting-out, we will follow the claims policy with shipping carrier to either locate your parcel or deem it as lost. This may take 6-8 weeks and is at the discretion of the courier. The maximum claim amount with the carrier is typically $100.

• We reserve the right to deny claims due to insurance fraud, and/or abuse.
• Shipping protection is non-refundable.

If the carrier has a delivery confirmation at the correct address or photographic evidence that it has been delivered to your property, is with a neighbour or at a secure location, we are not responsible for a refund or replacement.

If you purchased Navidium Shipping Protection, Oceans EV covers damage 100%. If your order has arrived to you damaged, please take photos of the item and the packaging it arrived in to include in your claim when filing. To file a claim, please send an email to support@oceansev.com describing all the details and uploading all your photos.

If your motor has a manufacturing defect, please send an email to support@oceansev.com  we’ll be happy to work with you to remedy the situation.

As long as you purchased Navidium Shipping Protection at checkout, you’re covered. If your order has not arrived, please contact us and we’ll help you trace it.

If you didn’t purchase Navidium shipping protection, contact us immediately and we’ll try to help as best we can as we file a claim with the shipping company.

Marked As Delivered (Stolen)

• Claims will be reviewed no earlier than 5 calendar days and no later than 15 calendar days from when it was marked delivered 
• Please note, some order issues may require a police report to be filed

Stuck In Transit (Lost)

• For Canadian orders, claims will be reviewed no earlier than 2 calendar days and no later than 30 calendar days from the last update. The maximum filing time is 60 days from the order date.
• For USA orders, claims will be reviewed no earlier than 20 calendar days and no later than 30 calendar days from the last update. The maximum filing time is 60 days from the order date.

Damaged

• Claims for damaged items require photos of the packaging and item(s) and must be filed no later than 15 calendar days from when it was marked delivered.

You’ll be provided a tracking number which will be emailed to you and available any time within your Oceans EV account.

Once your order is placed, it will be generally shipped within 48 hours (usually next day), depending on whether the components are in stock. Typical delivery times are within 2-8 days.