Epic Boats makes all Electric boat...and it's nice looking :)

[aptera1213]

Congrats to Chris on his latest news

http://green.autoblog.com/2010/02/16/epic-boats-introduces-all-electric-wakeboard-craft/

Within its 6.75 meter frame (22.15 feet), it is said to be packing 60 kWh of lithium batteries from sister-company Flux Power that can keep it going for up to 10 hours. It relies on a liquid-cooled brushless DC motor capable of pumping out 268 horsepower and 664 pound feet of torque for forward motion and can attain a top speed of about 40 miles per hour (64 km/h). Not bad considering it weighs in at 3,798 pounds.

Very nice. Hope you sell lots.

Good to see both Epic and Flux are getting product and news out there.

Gavin

[Epic]

:) Thanks Gavin

[KarenRei]

I did a search for reviews on Epic Boats and they all tended to be positive:

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=epic+23V+review&aq=f&aqi=g1&oq=&fp=c26c79a56c95bda8

Also did a search on forum comments for it:

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=epic+23V+forum&aq=f&aqi=&oq=&fp=c26c79a56c95bda8

Once again, generally very positive. Good to see them getting the electric treatment. :)

Update: Chris posted? Wow -- that's only post #2. How are things going with Flux, if you don't mind telling us? :)

[aptera1213]

If it is not secret info or such, how do the Flux batteries compare to A123 and Enerdel and such? In density, power, costs? Will you be competing with them? Or is it a different market?

Thanks...and keep pushing those EV concepts into EV realities :)

Gavin

[NmGfan]

It relies on a liquid-cooled brushless DC motor capable of pumping out 268 horsepower and 664 pound feet of torque

I love that, where can I get one of those! Okay, maybe with 200 less horsepower, but brushless DC, yeah! Is it a Flux power motor?

[speculawyer]

I kinda question the use of batteries in boats. I guess if the boat is used consistently, it would make sense. But a lot of boating is seasonal . . . do you just let that battery sit around in the off season?

[KarenRei]

I kinda question the use of batteries in boats. I guess if the boat is used consistently, it would make sense. But a lot of boating is seasonal . . . do you just let that battery sit around in the off season?

Hey, anything to get battery production volumes up is a good thing.

Eventually smart-charging will become standardized and widespread, allowing such batteries to do a huge service for the grid while not in use. Even until then, the boat is still contributing to helping batteries reach volume production.

There is an argument to be made for where our currently limited production output goes. I've made it myself in regard to solar before. But in this case, I think we need to show that there's a big market for these to encourage investors to fund scaleup. Solar already has shown that there's a big market out there.

[scottsim]

I kinda question the use of batteries in boats. I guess if the boat is used consistently, it would make sense. But a lot of boating is seasonal . . . do you just let that battery sit around in the off season?

I really liked the concept of the solar roofed pontoon boat...plug into grid in storage and generates power. No need for a torque monster, just a party boat for crusin' a lake and fishing.

[SlowSRT4]

I kinda question the use of batteries in boats. I guess if the boat is used consistently, it would make sense. But a lot of boating is seasonal . . . do you just let that battery sit around in the off season?
I have an electric lawn mower, which is seasonal where I live. :evilgrin0013:

The manual says I only need to charge it once every one or two months while it is in storage. But this isn't much of a hassle because the battery is separate so I just take it out of the mower and put it in my basement during the colder months.

[plainar]

I really liked the concept of the solar roofed pontoon boat...plug into grid in storage and generates power. No need for a torque monster, just a party boat for crusin' a lake and fishing.

I like this idea a lot!

[drivin98]

I like this idea a lot!

Then you might like the one (http://www.buffalosolarboats.com/) designed by Jason Hill (Aptera's former designer). It looks like they are taking orders now.

http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/02/tamarac-lakes-loon.jpg