Electric patrol boat for Auckland marina

Kiwi company Evocean is teaming up with Westhaven Marina in Auckland to trial a custom-built, fully electric patrol boat.

The trial seeks to replace one of the three petrol-powered boats in the current Marina fleet.

The New Zealand made Southern Pacific Inflatables boat is a standard inflatable which is equipped with Evoceans’ twin 10kW e-propulsion outboard motors and a 22kW lithium battery pack.

The onboard battery pack sustains Evie for nine hours at the marina’s speed limit of five knots and can be fully recharged in six hours while berthed at a standard power pedestal within the marina.

The electric boat is proving to be ideal for in-marina patrolling and security operation, plus it is quiet and emission free.

“Regular petrol patrol boats often spend considerable time idling, leading to fuel wastage, increased emissions, and accelerated wear and tear on engines,” Westhaven Marina manager Gareth Wilson says.

“This trial is another step in our continuous efforts to support sustainable environmental initiatives here at Westhaven and minimise our impact on the environment, preserving our marine ecosystem for future generations.” 

Evocean are tenants in the Westhaven Marina, so Eke Panuku has taken the long-term view to partner and test any products or vessels with the company as they develop new technology.

As far as replacing the full fleet with electric vehicles, Wilson adds: “There are many factors that help us decide whether we move to a fully electric vehicle (EV) fleet.

“While EV’s are not new, an EV performing all the required tasks in the marina is. They are not yet tried and tested in all marina functions and weather conditions, but we certainly hope they can achieve the required level.”