Switching makes a difference. Electric boats are cleaner and healthier for you, your community and our planet.
If you spend time outdoors and on the water, you are likely to have noticed a change. According to the NOAA analysis of global temperatures, nine of the ten warmest years have occurred since 2005. The five hottest years since 1880, when record-keeping began, were the last five years. 2019 was the second-hottest year in the 140-year record. Ocean temperatures are rising, as fishermen report species that have sustained coastal communities for ages are vanishing. Coral reefs, so fragile and beautiful, so critical for aquatic life, are suffering from warming and ocean acidification.
THE SCIENCE IS CLEAR
Global temperatures are currently predicted to reach 1.5° C above pre-industrial levels between 2030-2052. The science is clear: We have to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 45% over the next 11 years to avoid further warming – and the most harmful impacts of climate change. Reaching this goal will require the reinvention of our lifestyle.
The good news is that the technology for a carbon-neutral mobility is here – and getting more powerful every day.
ELECTRIC BOATS HAVE LOWER CLIMATE IMPACT
Boats powered by electric motors have a significantly lower climate impact than combustion-powered boats. Even when charged with electricity from a coal-fired power plant, CO2 emissions are reduced by approximately 30%. When charged via renewables, the climate impact is reduced by up to 90%.
Until recently, little attention was paid to the air pollution caused by combustion engines on boats. They are allowed to emit up to 100 times the level of harmful substances permitted in automotive diesels and include very little technology for filtering out pollutants. If you drive an 80 HP boat for one hour, it’s like driving 350 new cars at highway speed for the same amount of time. It’s no wonder that in cities with a lot of boat traffic, air pollution from fine particles is up to 20 times higher than accepted levels. If you switch to an electric drive, you are not only reducing your carbon footprint; your local community and waters will benefit as well.
Electric boats cause no water pollution because they don’t discharge their exhaust underwater like combustion engines and there is no chance of fuel or oil spilling on the boat or fouling the water. They are also quieter than fossil fuel-powered boats, as their noise disturbs people on land and wildlife under water. With an electric motor the only sound you hear are the sounds of nature.
FOR NOW AND THE FUTURE
Boaters are keen to preserve nature and enjoy clean air and unpolluted water – for today’s enjoyment and tomorrow’s generations. Torqeedo creates the products for the transition to sustainable boating. It’s what we’ve been doing all along.
To find out more about Torqeedo Electric Outboards, contact 143 Boat Building, Ryan on 0451 229 247, or visit www.143boatbuilding.com.au.
Published in print January-March 2022
