Historical background and development of electric boats

‌Electric boats have a history dating back to the late 19th century, more than 130 years ago‌. The earliest electric boat was invented by German inventor Moritz von Jacobi in 1839. The boat was 24 feet long and could carry 14 passengers at a speed of about 2.6 knots‌. Subsequently, Austrian electrical engineer Anthony Reckenzaun built the "Electricity" in 1882, a steel boat equipped with batteries, which is considered one of the first "practical" electric boats‌.
‌Electric boats were popular in the early 20th century, but were subsequently replaced by internal combustion engines‌. However, since the energy crisis of the 1970s, there has been a renewed interest in quiet and potentially renewable water power. For example, the first solar-powered speedboat was built in the UK in 1975, and the world's first fully solar-powered ocean-going vessel was the Swiss-made MS TÛRANOR PlanetSolar‌.
‌The development of modern electric boats has made significant progress in recent years‌. In 2017, the world's first 1,000-ton pure electric ship was launched in Nansha, Guangzhou. In addition, in December 2024, the world's largest 10,000-ton pure electric transport ship was started in Yichang, Hubei. The ship is equipped with 12 lithium battery box power supplies with a total power supply of 24,000 kWh and a cruising range of up to 500 kilometers, which is suitable for long-distance cargo transportation. The technological innovation and application areas of electric ships are also expanding. For example, Elco Motor Yachts has been engaged in the electric marine engine business since 1893 and built battery-powered submarines for the US Navy in the early 20th century. In addition, modern electric boats are also widely used in yachts, fishing auxiliary ships, cargo ships and sightseeing cruise ships.