Electric Boats: Models, Grants and Charging

Which electric boats are on the market

Electric boats now range from the open day boat for an Alpine lake to the classic Dutch sloep, the hydrofoil that lifts clear of the water at speed and the cabin motor yacht. The table lists the yards in our boat builder directory that currently offer electric boats, with country of origin and the year the range was launched.

We leave out battery size, power and range on purpose, because most models come with a choice of batteries and motors. To work out what your own boat can do, use the electric boat calculator.

Yard	Country	Ranges	since
Alfastreet Marine electric boats	Slovenia	Alfastreet 18 Electric, Alfastreet 23 Electric	2010
Aquawatt electric boats	Austria	550 Solarboot, 717 Classic Sport, 848, Motorzillen, Electric Rib F40 / F45 / F50	1993
Candela electric boats	Sweden	Candela C-8	2022
Duffy electric boats	USA	Duffy 16 Snug Harbor, Duffy 18 / 22 Bay Island, Duffy 25 Bay Island	1995
Frauscher electric boats	Austria	Frauscher x Porsche 850 Fantom Air	2022
Q-Yachts electric boats	Finland	Q30, Q40 / Q40 Cabin	2018
RAND Boats electric boats	Denmark	Picnic 18, Leisure 28, Escape 30, Source 22	2016
Sialia electric boats	Poland	Sialia 45 Sport / Weekender, Sialia 57 Sport, Sialia 59 Weekender	2019
Stauff electric boats	Netherlands	Sloep 550 / 650, Sloep 750 / 850	2000
Vision Marine electric boats	Canada	Fantail 217, Volt 180, Bruce 22	2015
WIA electric boats	Hungary	WIA 230, WIA 330, WIA 350 / 365, WIA 435, WIA 520	2013
X Shore electric boats	Sweden	X Shore 1, X Shore Eelex 8000	2020

Hybrid boats

Yard	Country	Ranges	since
Aqualine electric boats	Germany	Aqualine 550 Hybrid Adventure	2023

Electric drives for retrofitting

Maker	Country	Drives	since
Torqeedo electric boats	Germany	Travel, Cruise, Deep Blue	2005
Vetus electric boats	Netherlands	E-Line	2015

List as of 8 November 2026, taken from our boat builder directory. Missing a yard? Tell us and we will add it with a source.

Grants for electric boats

As of November 2026 there is no grant in Germany for a privately owned electric boat, neither federal nor from any state we could check. The BAFA environmental bonus ended on 18 December 2023, and the 2026 electric car grant covers passenger cars only.[1][2]

Public money for electric propulsion on the water has so far gone to businesses only: passenger vessels, registered inland ships, ports and charging points at berths. The 2026 calls have closed:[3]

Green inland navigation, funding lines 1 and 2 (federal)

Closed on 19 October 2026, for companies and municipalities

Up to 95 per cent towards zero-emission inland vessels, conversions of existing ships and charging points in ports and at berths.[4][5]

Zero-emission propulsion and modernisation of inland vessels (federal)

Call closed on 26 March 2026, registered commercial vessels only

Up to 80 per cent for converting an existing inland vessel to zero-emission drive, up to 100 per cent for a new build. The guideline expires at the end of 2026.[6]

BordstromTech II (federal)

Applications until 30 September 2026, closed

80 per cent towards mobile shore power units in sea and inland ports, capped at 2.2 million euros for inland ports.[7]

If a programme opens that includes private owners, you will find it here.

Charging an electric boat

The blue camping socket on the pontoon (CEE, 230 volts, 16 amps) delivers at most 3.7 kW. A charging post with a Type 2 plug manages 11 or 22 kW if the charger on board accepts that much. Leaving losses aside, a 40 kWh battery takes almost eleven hours on shore power and under four at 11 kW.

Public charging points for boats are still rare, and the German Federal Network Agency register of charging points does not list berths with shore power as a category of their own. Our directory shows the 12 sites mapped as boat charging points, plus floating charging stations we can source: electric boat charging points.[8]

German insurers' loss prevention institute IFS advises: charge only with the supplied charger, somewhere dry, at room temperature, on a non-combustible surface, with a smoke alarm and never unattended. A damaged battery should be taken out of use.[9]

If a lithium-ion battery catches fire, the German fire service associations recommend water: cool it early and for a long time, and keep watching the heat afterwards.[10]

For winter storage, leave the battery at 30 to 60 per cent charge, dry and at 10 to 20 degrees Celsius. Months at zero will damage it.[11]

Licence and range in Germany

On German inland and coastal waterways you need no boating licence for an electric boat as long as the motor's continuous rating (duty type S1) is no more than 7.5 kW. What counts is continuous output, not peak power.[12]

Since 2023 the same applies on the Rhine; the old special limit of 3.68 kW has gone.[13]

Lake Constance is different: above 4.4 kW every powered boat needs the Lake Constance skipper's licence, electric or not, and every boat with a motor must be registered.[14][15]

Whether your battery covers your trip and whether your motor needs a licence is checked by the range and licence calculator.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a licence for an electric boat in Germany?

Not as long as the electric motor's continuous rating is no more than 7.5 kW, on inland and coastal waterways and since 2023 on the Rhine too. On Lake Constance every boat above 4.4 kW needs the skipper's licence, including electric ones.

How long does it take to charge an electric boat?

It depends on the battery and the connection. A standard 16 amp shore power socket gives at most 3.7 kW, so a 40 kWh battery needs almost eleven hours. At an 11 kW charging post it is under four, if the charger on board accepts that much.

Where can I charge my electric boat?

Usually on the shore power at your own berth. There are only a few public charging posts for boats so far; our directory of electric boat charging points lists them by region.

How should I store the battery over winter?

At 30 to 60 per cent charge, dry and at 10 to 20 degrees Celsius. A battery left flat for months will be damaged.

More for electric boaters

Electric boat calculator Electric boat charging points Lakes with an engine ban

Sources

As of 8 November 2026, all sources retrieved on or before that day.

Electric boats: the essentials