Fresh off the launch of the ePropulsion 2.0 electric outboard last November, the company has announced an addition to their E-Series of batteries. The new E-100 can to be used to add range to lower kiloWatt ePropulsion outboards and pod motors and also to power some of the company’s higher kilowatt motors.
Listen to this article as a podcastThe E100 joins the E60 and E163 as the middle entry in the E-Series battery line-up. Like all the E-Series batteries it is built on ePropulsion’s 48V architecture and is designed for scalability with the company’s line of smaller electric motors from 1 kiloWatts to 6 kW: the Spirit 1.0, new Spirit 2.0, Navy 3.0 and Navy 6.0 outboards; and the Navy 3.0 and Navy 6.0 pod drives.
Read about the new ePropulsion 2.0 outboard
Same Voltage, different Amp hours / kiloWatt hoursThe batteries all uses Lithium Iron Phosphate chemistry, also call LiFePo4 or LFP. The advantage is that it is more stable and affordable than chemistries like the more common NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt), but it does not store as much energy per unit of weight.
The distinguishing feature between the three batteries is how much current each can provide over a specified amount of time – measured in Amp hours (Ah) – and the energy storage capacity – measured in kiloWatt hours (kWh).
The E60 provides 60 Ah and just over 3 kWh of energy storage capacity, the E100 provides 100 Ah and just over 5 kWh and the E163, provides 163 Ah and just under 8.5 kWh of energy storage.
It is voltage that determines the size of motor a battery can run – the power. It is Amp hours and kiloWatt hours that determine how long the motor can run – the range.
E100 battery can be connected in parallel or seriesFor the Spirit 1.0 and new 2.0 electric outboards, using an E100 instead of an E60 battery increases range by 66%. The E100 is also a practical energy source for the Navy outboards and pods.
Before the arrival of the E100 the Navy models required an E163 to get a reasonable range and water time for those 3 and 6 kiloWatt motors. Or, you could connect two R60 batteries in parallel, which maintains the voltage at 48 while doubling the energy storage from 3 to 6 kiloWatthours. But two R60s also doubles the weight of the battery system from 33 kg (73 lb) to 66 kg (146 lb).
Using a single E-100 provides a nice solution for the Navy 3 and 6. The range is 80% of the two smaller batteries, but requires only 70% of the weight.
What is new and sets the E100 apart from the other batteries in the line not the kiloWatt hour capacity, though, is the voltage potential. Like the other E-Series batteries, the E100 can be connected to itself in parallel, but what sets it apart from the others in the line is that it can also be connected in series.
Flexible positioning, integration
In the main illustration at the top of this article above you can see this feature in practice on a small RIB – Rigid Inflatable Boat – powered with two E100s and an X 12 outbord. The batteries are connected and one is situated in the forward section of the boat, the other in the aft.
The low-profile design enables installation under seating or within confined compartments and makes it simple to split the location of the batteries and distribute weight in a small boat.
The all-metal construction is weather-resistant, impact-resistant, and drop-proof. A dedicated mounting bracket and removable decorative trim expand storage and integration options. Thr 96 volt configuration also unlocks rapid charging capabilities.
The E100 has a raft of other features that make the switch to electric propulsion more convenient and practical. Integration with third-party gateways allows communication with a wide range of popular onboard systems to support smart energy management and system monitoring including real-time State of Charge (SoC). A fully integrated Battery Management System ensures maximum safety and the E100 has a life expectancy of up to 3,000 cycles while maintaining 80% State of Health (SoH).
“We’re very proud to launch the E100 as the newest addition to ePropulsion’s E-Series batteries,” said Danny Tao, co-founder and CEO of ePropulsion. “This new battery is ready to consistently deliver reliability and high-performance to ePropulsion electric motors. We’re certain that users will appreciate its compact design for concealed installation, as well as its expandability to bring boaters sustainable power, no matter their vessel’s requirements.”
The chart below shows some of the properties of the E-Series battery line and the ways in which they can be used. For full specs, including things like Max Continuous Discharging Current, there is a chart on the ePropulsion website
ePropulsion E-Series Batteries E60 E163 E100 Voltage (Rated) 48 V (51.2 V) 48 V (51.2 V) 48 V (51.2 V) Amp Hours 60 Ah 163 Ah 100 Ah Storage Capacity 3072 Wh 8345 Wh 5120 Wh Weight 33 kg (73 lb) 76 kg (168 lb) 48.5 kg (107 lb) Dimensions 512 x 290 x 300 mm (20.2 x 11.4 x 11.8 in) 470 x 295 x 495 mm (18.5 x 11.6 x 19.5 in) 630 x 320 x 240 mm (24.8 x 12.6 x 9.5 in) Motors: Outboards Spirit 1.0, 2.0 Spirit 1.0, 2.0, Navy 3.0, 6.0 Spirit 1.0, 2.0, Navy 3.0, 6.0. Two E100s connected in series can power an X12 Motors: Pods Spirit 1.0, 2.0 Spirit 1.0, 2.0, Navy 3.0, 6.0 PodDrive 12 Motors: Inboards I10 Parallel Connection (Increase kWh for range)* Up to 16 (of the same model and year)* Up to 16 (of the same model and year)* Up to 16 (of the same model and year)* Series Connection (Increase Voltage for power) N/A N/A 2 (Cannot connect in parallel when used in series) See full chart on ePropulsion website.*** For parallel connection the E60, E163, and E100 can only be connected to the same model of the same age because they have different Battery Management Systems and different cell configurations.
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