Are Electric Boats safe?

There have been some discussions about the safety of battery packs used in marine environments. In the early days of EVs in the car industry, there were concerns about fires. Now that EV tech is moving into the marine world, people are worried about electrocution.

What are the challenges and concerns Electric Boats need to overcome to achieve the acceptance we see with Electric Cars?

The video below explains how Electric Boat batteries are built, sealed, and how they differ from car batteries.

Submarines have been using electric propulsion for 100 years.

jessicah said:
Submarines have been using electric propulsion for 100 years.

Good point! Do you think Electric recreational Boats might be as accepted as Electric Cars soon?

Christopher said:

jessicah said:
Submarines have been using electric propulsion for 100 years.

Good point! Do you think Electric recreational Boats might be as accepted as Electric Cars soon?

Yes. Today’s batteries and systems are way better, and prices keep falling. Adoption will keep growing, but media and politics will affect how fast it happens.

Tech safety aside, if water is reaching the batteries on your boat, you’ve got bigger problems than fire.

jeff said:
Tech safety aside, if water is reaching the batteries on your boat, you’ve got bigger problems than fire.

And hey, you’ll have plenty of water around to fight the fire! Just bail it out the other way. /s

jeff said:
Tech safety aside, if water is reaching the batteries on your boat, you’ve got bigger problems than fire.

True. Boats already have house batteries for radios, radar, lights, etc.

But I’m curious how people feel about EVs in boating.

@Christopher
I was in the Navy on a ship with electric motors powered by diesel engines. It’s basically EV propulsion.

zendaya said:
@Christopher
I was in the Navy on a ship with electric motors powered by diesel engines. It’s basically EV propulsion.

Yep, lots of big cargo ships work like that too. Either diesel-electric or gas-electric.

zendaya said:
@Christopher
I was in the Navy on a ship with electric motors powered by diesel engines. It’s basically EV propulsion.

Modern cruise ships use that too, they call them ‘azipods’.

What if there’s a shark, like 10 yards away?

izael said:
What if there’s a shark, like 10 yards away?

Exactly! What does the industry need to do to reduce fears and promote Electric Boats?

There’s been no real discussion about electric boat safety. One guy tried to make a point to support the fossil fuel industry and got lost in the process.

There have been some discussions about the safety of battery packs in marine environments

Like in the US Navy.

Now that EV tech is moving into marine industries, there are concerns about electrocution.

Maybe they haven’t heard of General Dynamics Electric Boat?

https://www.gdeb.com/about/oursubmarines/

Established in 1899, Electric Boat has a long history in submarine design and construction for the U.S. Navy.

@Gabriel
It’s important to distinguish between pure BEV propulsion, nuclear propulsion, and diesel-electric generators.

The Vestmannaeyjar ferry in Iceland is an example of a pure BEV system. It charges fast at the dock with big chargers. They probably have a diesel backup, though. Diesel-electric is what powers most trains and ships. Submarines use nuclear for power, which drives the quiet electric motors for the propellers.

@Mark

A diesel would be loud when you’re trying to stay quiet.

A bigger issue is that ICE engines need a lot of air… not ideal when you’re underwater!

Ronald said:
@Mark
A diesel would be loud when you’re trying to stay quiet.

A bigger issue is that ICE engines need a lot of air… not ideal when you’re underwater!

True! Plus, diesel engines are very loud.

@Mark
WW2 submarines used batteries underwater. Some diesel-electric boats still have large batteries for underwater use.

jabali said:
@Mark
WW2 submarines used batteries underwater. Some diesel-electric boats still have large batteries for underwater use.

We didn’t have high-capacity lithium batteries back then, so they couldn’t stay submerged for long. But even one small sub is better than none.

@Gabriel
Electric Boat makes nuclear-powered submarines, which generate electricity but still use steam turbines for propulsion.