The Sun Rises on the Electric Day Boat

A number of battery-powered models were put to the test—these three surged past expectations.

- Michael Verdon

UNLIKE BATTERY-POWERED cars, electric boats haven't much made their way onto the scene, despite the earliest model having appeared in the 1830s, roughly the same time as the first electric car. Yet, a sea change may finally be on the way as the first generation of zero-emissions, commercially available electric boats hits the water. Aside from eschewing fossil fuel, these newcomers offer easy maintenance, boast lower operational costs and allow for remote trouble-shooting and software updates.

But the most striking common denominator across these three vessels? The smart, devil-in-the-detail designs.

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