ePropulsion makes a wide range of electric outboard motors, and OceansEV now carries models from 500W (equivalent to a 1.5hp motor) up to 6000W (equivalent to a 9.9hp motor). But which one is right for your boat, your target application and your lifestyle? We put together this handy guide to help you find the best motor for you.
All ePropulsion motors have these characteristics in common:
- Suitable for use in freshwater or saltwater
- Turn on and off with a single button press
- Ambidextrous operation (configure for left- or right-handed operation)
- Throttle controls forward and reverse motion
- Virtually no maintenance required
- Instant torque (fantastic maneuverability control)
- Near-silent
- 48V powertrain
If you have:
...we recommend:
If you have:
Small boats, RIBs and SIBs, dinghies and tenders.
We recommend:
eLite
Super compact, lightweight (6.7kg) and seconds to install or remove. 1.5hp equivalent. Available in short or long shaft versions.
If you have:
Larger RIBs and SIBs, dinghies, jon boats and tenders.
We recommend:
Spirit 1.0 Plus
Compact and lightweight (19kg), perfect for going ashore or trolling. 3hp equivalent.
If you have:
Sailboats up to 1,500kg/3,300lbs.
We recommend:
Spirit 1.0 Evo
Adds several features including hydrogeneration, allowing you recharge the battery while you sail. 3hp equivalent.
If you have:
Tenders and dinghies, RIBs and SIBs, sailboats, motor boats and yachts up to 3,000kg.
We recommend:
If you have:
RIBs and SIBs, sailboats, motor boats and yachts up to 6,000kg.
We recommend:
Navy 6.0 Evo or Pod 6.0 Evo
A true 9.9hp replacement that’s silent and requires no gas and no maintenance.
eLite
The smallest ePropulsion outboard motor is the entirely self-contained eLite. The lithium-ion battery is contained in the motor’s watertight body, and an LED display on top displays remaining charge, power output, speed and estimated range. The battery can be recharged by solar panels and can also charge other devices like a smartphone thanks to a USB-C port.
The eLite is incredibly small and light at only 6.7kg (14.7lbs) and super easy to carry thanks to a folding tiller that doubles as a carrying handle (and the motor is perfectly balanced when carrying it). It easily attaches and and detaches from the transom clamp with a one-click quick release in seconds.
Its adjustable trim angles and shallow water mode make it effective in areas with limited depth.
At 500W it provides equivalent power to a 1.5hp gas motor, but with no fumes, no noise, no maintenance! It will run for up to 45 minutes at full speed on a full charge, but typical real-world usage gets you about 2-3 hours of runtime.
The eLite is suitable for small boats (up to 10ft), RIBs and SIBs, dinghies and tenders. It’s an ideal solution to service sailing and yachting vessels, especially liveaboards, as an ultra-portable solution to get to shore and back.
Spirit 1.0 Plus
The ePropulsion Spirit 1.0 Plus is our most popular electric outboard motor because of it’s versatility. It’s perfect for use on a wide range of dinghies, fishing boats, jon boats, RIBs and SIBs, sailboats and tenders. Its 1,000W output provides the equivalent power to a 3HP gas motor. This is enough power for larger boats and even small sailboats up to 1,500kg (3,300lbs).
The integrated, removable battery (which floats!) provides up to 75 minutes of runtime at full throttle, but since people typically never run the motor at full throttle continuously, gives you realistically 2-3 hours of runtime. For greater range, the Spirit 1.0 Plus battery can be recharged with solar panels, or the motor can also be powered with an external lithium battery.
The Spirit 1.0 Plus is compact, foldable and lightweight at only 19kg (42lbs), including the battery.
Spirit 1.0 Evo
The Spirit 1.0 Evo is almost identical to the Spirit 1.0 Plus but adds additional features, including hydrogeneration. Like regenerative braking on a Tesla, this extends the runtime/range by recharging the battery while sailing at speeds above above 4 knots.
Because of hydrogeneration, the perfect use case for the Spirit 1.0 Evo is small sailboats (up to 3,300lbs, 1,500kg). Note that hydrogeneration only works with ePropulsion batteries.
It’s perfect for getting in an out of the marina silently, with no fumes and no oils slicks. An electric motor’s instant torque at any RPM provides fantastic maneuverability in tight spaces, whether going forward or reverse (the same tiller handles both).
Additional features above the Spirit 1.0 Plus include the ability to use remote steering and a remote wireless throttle, wireless remote safety wristbands (connect up to 8), and a backlit display on the tiller with a richer set of real-time data.
Navy 3.0 Evo
The smallest of the Navy line, the Navy 3.0 Evo doubles the power of the Spirit 1.0 Evo, producing the power equivalent to a 6hp gas motor. Like the Spirit 1.0 Evo, the Navy 3.0 Evo also features hydrogeneration, allowing you to recharge the battery while sailing.
Unlike the Spirit 1.0 Evo, the Navy 3.0 Evo does not include an integrated battery, so one must be purchased separately.
You can use either genuine ePropulsion batteries like the E60 lithium (LiFePO4) battery, or a 3rd-party battery like the Epoch 50Ah lithium (LiFePO4) battery. Your runtime will depend on the capacity of the 48V battery you use, but if you use the E60 battery (3072Wh) you can expect about 80 minutes at full throttle, or 2-3 hours of use under normal conditions. Note that if you want to take advantage of hydrogeneration, you must use the genuine ePropulsion E60 battery.
The Navy 3.0 Evo is suitable for small to larger boats up to 3,000kg (6,600lbs) such as yacht tenders and dinghies, aluminium fishing boats, SIBs, RIBs, day sailors and small yachts.
Navy 6.0 Evo
At the top end of the Navy line is the Navy 6.0 Evo. This 6,000W electric outboard motor is an electric replacement for a 9.9hp gas motor, albeit one that’s silent, produces no emissions and requires virtually no maintenance.
Like the Navy 3.0 Evo, a compatible lithium battery is required. You can use either the genuine ePropulsion E163 lithium (LiFePO4) battery, or a 3rd-party battery like the Epoch 100Ah lithium (LiFePO4) battery. The E163 is a massive battery and will provide you 1.5 hours of at full throttle (or much more for small boats and/or when operating at slower speeds.
If you use a different 3rd-party battery brand, just make sure you know it’s compatible with the Navy 6.0 Evo’s amperage requirements. Also note that if you want to take advantage of hydrogeneration, you must use the genuine ePropulsion E163 battery.
The Navy 6.0 Evo is great for any boat up to 6,000kg (14,500lbs).
Pod Drive 6.0 Evo
The Pod Drive 6.0 Evo provides the same 6,000W of power (equivalent to a 9.9HP motor) as the Navy 6.0 Evo. It also offers the same hydrogeneration feature (as long as you use the genuine ePropulsion E163 battery). However, that’s where the similarities end.
If you took the Navy 6.0 Evo but detached everything above the motor and propeller (the bottom 18 inches or so) you would have a Pod Drive 6.0 Evo. The Pod Drive is mounted under your hull, with cables threaded through a sealed opening and connected to a controller and the battery inside the boat. The Pod Drive 6.0 Evo is therefore attached permanently to the boat and is always submerged when your boat is in the water.
The Pod Drive 6.0 Evo is basically the stealth ninja of ePropulsion motors—it’s tucked away under your boat rather than hanging off the transom. Here’s why people love it (and how it differs from the other ePropulsion outboards):
Space-Saving, Sleeker Look
Because the Pod Drive is installed under the hull, you free up your transom for other uses (or just keep it looking clean). It’s not this big engine hanging off the back, so you get a more streamlined and modern aesthetic.
Reduced Noise and Vibration
Electric motors are already quiet, but the Pod Drive typically runs even more silently than an external outboard. Having the motor hidden under the hull muffles sound further, so you’ll be cruising in near silence—great if you value peace on the water or you don’t want to scare away the fish.
Improved Efficiency and Handling
Positioning the motor directly below the boat can offer better thrust and a lower center of gravity. That can translate into smoother handling, especially if you’re big on precision or if you’re running a sailboat and want minimal drag.
Less Clutter and Easier Boarding
Outboards can get in the way of your swim platform or ladder. With a pod drive under the hull, there’s no big motor interfering with your perfect cannonball (or more dignified swim). Boarding and moving around the deck becomes much easier.
The Pod Drive 6.0 Evo is especially awesome for small- to medium-sized sailboats, pontoon boats, or small powerboats where the owners want a clean look, quiet operation, and decent power (about 9.9 hp equivalent). Outboards are still great if you want easily removable power for multiple boats or if you’re on a tight budget, but if you’re installing a more permanent electric system, the Pod Drive is the next-level choice.
