Vetus is back in the electric boating market with two new propulsion systems, the E-Pod and the E-Line, both of which can be used for refit as well as newbuilds.

The 7.5-kilowatt, 48-volt E-Pod package is made to fit on the stern of boats up to 25 feet. An enclosed propeller designed by Marin (Maritime Research Institute Netherlands) reduces cavitation while providing the most efficient thrust. The silent motor mounts without a shaft or other drive components, which means no rotating or vibrating, and requires minimum room inside the boat.

The 48-volt E-Line package makes an ideal replacement for inboard diesel engines, dropping easily into small diesel footprints. It is water-cooled, with a battery bank that can be charged with a 24-volt battery charger.

“Perfect for the growing electric propulsion market and the inland waterways sector, the system meets all current and future emission requirements. We are offering this electric propulsion that we can package with a lot of our other technologies. For example, we can combine it with a 48V bow thruster and offer steering,” said Thijs Boegheim, Vetus’ Sales Director EMEA and global marketing director of the E-Line package.

Both systems have Vetus’ unique active motor braking system, which provides direct and complete control without a delay. For even more increased handling, the systems can be augmented with the Vetus Bow Pro, electric thrusters that can be mounted on both the stern and the bow of the boat. The range of both systems varies according to speed. A 2,600-pound, 20-foot vessel, for example, can go 48 nm at 2 knots, but will make just 10 nm at 4 knots with 1.32 kilowatt hours of battery capacity.

The new lines represent Vetus’ re-entry into a market that it pioneered two decades ago, according to Boegheim.