ExploMar quietly pushes electric outboards into 300hp territory

Having developed rapidly, the electric outboard market feels like it has concentrated on smaller propulsion systems, but now ExploMar, a company designing around 150–300hp is moving its technology beyond tenders, small dayboats and low-speed applications into larger recreational boats and commercial craft.

Its range starts at 70hp, with its main products currently rated at 150hp and 300hp.

“We want to always chase for higher horsepower,” says Louise Lu, brand and PR director, speaking ahead of the Monaco Yacht Show where the company is exhibiting. “We are trying to achieve better performance, higher performance for electric outboards.”

ExploMar showcases higher horsepower in race performance

The proof of its strides forward have been with racing. It recently retained its Open Sea Xperience 16-nautical-mile endurance title at the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge. In Force 4 winds and with waves between 1 and 2 metres, Lu says she was sat around for about ten minutes waiting for the other competitors to finish. This demonstrates the capability of Explomar’s technology. It also came second in the speed competition.

Events like these help to underpin the performance of the outboard, offering “proven evidence” and increasing awareness among potential customers.

Those customers span both commercial and recreational applications.

Fleet orders point to commercial potential

For commercial operators, the company says electric propulsion can deliver significant economic benefits, particularly for those –  for example –  operating ferries between islands.

In Nigeria, the company has an order for around 10 units of its 300 twin system, with the total order expected to reach 20 units for a single electric-ferry project, demonstrating a fleet application rather than an individual-owner purchase.

The project is focused on using Lagos State’s waterways as an alternative to road transport, where congestion is a significant issue. The customer previously operated boats powered by combustion engines, says Lu, but after learning about electric propulsion, it visited ExploMar’s factory (twice) before deciding to convert one of its boats to electric.

“But this year in March he decides, ‘Okay, I will make 10 more’,” suggesting an evaluation-proof adoption model prior to scaling.

Lu says ExploMar has now sold into more than 20 countries, with multiple orders currently being managed through its manufacturing operation.

Battery installation remains a practical challenge

The company currently sells through dealers in Europe (it has trial centres in Germany and Hungary), while working with engineering partners to support the installation of its propulsion systems in existing boats. Engineering partners include one based at Lake Königssee. The latter has modified boats to accommodate the battery installation.

“He actually cut some of parts of the boat to fit the battery in,” says Lu.

While available hull space can sometimes be insufficient for the required battery system, Lu notes that its engineering partners will work on finding ways to integrate the batteries. (It’s Si-90 battery system for commercial and recreational use is 1660mm wide, by 720mm deep and 300mm high).

Creating battery space highlights one of the industry’s practical barriers: battery packaging and weight/space requirements. But if manufacturers and installers develop repeatable ways of putting high-power electric systems into existing hulls, the addressable market becomes much larger than new electric boats alone.

For recreational boating, Lu lists the benefits of the electric outboards as the absence of exhaust fumes and reduced noise, alongside the instant power delivery of electric propulsion. The company’s selling to consumers on product characteristics, rather than purely environmental credentials.

Aside from the lack of smell and noise, Lu says Wave outboards change the driving experience through instant start-up. “Starting instantly is exactly what we want to bring to the customers.”

Manufacturing supports customisation and supply

ExploMar’s factory is in Changshu in Suzhou. The company says it selected Suzhou because of the concentration of component manufacturers in the area, with the location giving access to a dense network, enabling customised parts and faster supply.

ExploMar’s approach reflects a broader development in the electric outboard market, as manufacturers move beyond lower-powered systems towards higher-performance propulsion. The company starts its range at 70hp and currently focuses on 150hp and 300hp systems, while using racing to demonstrate its performance. At the same time, its work on commercial fleets and retrofits highlights two potential routes for wider adoption: repeat fleet orders and the conversion of existing boats rather than relying solely on new electric vessels. The growth of dealer and engineering networks capable of integrating batteries and propulsion systems could therefore become as important to the expansion of the market as the outboard technology itself.