Electric on Boot 2024
What is the state of play when it comes to electrification in the boating industry? We went to Boot Düsseldorf, the world's largest indoor boat show, to take a closer look at what manufacturers are offering and what the market is demanding.
The automotive industry has undergone a major transformation over the past two decades, with all major car manufacturers working to phase out internal combustion engines by 2035. The boat industry is a different story. A typical boat show mainly features diesel and gasoline engines, with the greatest interest in the more powerful engines, which generally have higher emission levels.
But things are starting to happen. Major industry players such as Volvo Penta, Nimbus, Garmin, Yamaha, Beneteau and Mercury are all driving the development of zero-emission technology. Across the different segments at the show, whether motorized leisure boats, water sports, tourism, sailboats or commercial boats, the growing interest in electric solutions is clear.
There are many paths to the goal of an emission-free and sustainable boating industry. While electrification is most prominent, we also see many manufacturers coming up with new hybrid solutions.
Lise Kalstad, editor of Båtens Värld.
Lise Kalstad is the editor of Båtens Värld and has been attending the fair since 2012. Kalstad says that she has never before seen such visibility and interest in electric boats and electric powertrains as now. She points out that there is a wide range of solutions and that, just like the car industry, it will probably take a few steps to reach a fully electric boat.
- There are many paths to the goal of an emission-free and sustainable boating industry. While electrification is most prominent, we also see many manufacturers coming up with new hybrid solutions. Players like Yamaha are also working on hydrogen outboard engines, while others are focusing more on biofuels," says Lise Kalstad, who attended a joint lunch for Norwegian exhibitors and participants, organized by the Electric Boat Network in cooperation with the Norwegian-German Chamber of Commerce.
Electric outboard motors
Japanese manufacturer Suzuki is positioning itself to challenge its major competitors in the boat segment, Yamaha and Mercury. During the fair, they all exhibited in Hall 3.
In 2024, Suzuki will launch its first all-electric motor, and it is rolling out five models by 2030. Yet Suzuki believes that electric drive will only dominate the market for slow boats and boats for use on lakes, rivers and canals.
While Yamaha has electrification as one of its four main pillars of its strategy and Mercury is rolling out several models in its all-electric Avator range, Suzuki estimates that electric motors will account for only 5% of sales in its marine division by 2030. For fast boats and larger engines, Suzuki is betting on the next generation of biofuels.
Energy efficient hulls
In addition to powertrain innovation, many exhibitors at the fair also focused on the design and construction of energy-efficient hulls.
Swedish X-shore was visibly present with their stand in Hall 4, a hall characterized by Nordic exhibitors. There was great interest in their X-Shore 1 which is in a price range that reaches a wider market segment than their Eelex 8000.
Norwegian Pascal Technologies, together with Swedish Nimbus, is developing a concept boat based on Pascal's air cushion technology, equipped with Evoy's 300 hp all-electric Storm outboard motor.
Danish Rand was also visibly present at the fair and reported a lot of interest, not least in their solar-powered Solara 33.
The Norwegian Ibiza 601 came out on top in its class when the editors of Europe's leading boating magazines named the best in the 'European Powerboat of the year 2024'.
Huge interest in sailing boats
While the Nordic market has been characterized by great interest in motorized leisure boats, further south in Europe there is a significant and growing interest in sailing boats. In a press release from Boot Düsseldorf, they refer to the fact that in their market and audience surveys there is the greatest interest in this. 42 percent of respondents are most interested in sailing boats, followed by motorized boats with 38 percent.
France's Beneteau emphasized that increased interest in sailboats in large markets like Norway and Sweden would be a step in the right direction to reduce emissions and noise.
Boat Dusseldorf 2024
- Increased interest in electric solutions and hybrid technologies is evident across segments at Boot Düsseldorf, the world's largest indoor boat show.
- Major players like Volvo Penta, Nimbus, Garmin, Yamaha, Beneteau and Mercury are driving the development of emission-free technology.
- Energy efficient hulls and powertrain innovations were in focus, with examples such as Sweden's X-shore and its affordable X-Shore 1, and the collaboration between Norway's Pascal Technologies and Sweden's Nimbus on a concept boat with air cushion technology and an electric motor from Evoy.
- Strong interest in sailboats in southern Europe, with 42% of respondents at Boot Düsseldorf showing the most interest in this type of boat.
