News
Embracing Sustainability: The Rise of Electric Boats
With the ever-increasing focus of the marine industry on our environmental impact, it is no wonder the popularity of electric boats continues to rise.
According to Allied Market Research, the global electric-boat market is expected to exceed $16 billion by 2031, having grown by $11 billion from 2021. But what’s driving this growth, and how can Flexiteek synthetic decking play a role in this growing market?
Environmental Benefits
One of the clear benefits of electric boats is the minimised impact on the environment. Electric boats operate with emissions-free propulsion. This means harmful substances such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, particulate matter and nitrogen oxides are not released whilst the engine is running. Combustion engines release high levels of these pollutants into the air via exhaust fumes. This not only reduces air quality but can also be unpleasant for passengers, wildlife, and water users.
Everyday activities like refuelling and engine use contribute significantly to oil and fuel pollution in waterways. It’s important to recognise that this type of pollution mostly comes from routine actions, not just large spills. With just 5% of oil and pollution originating from catastrophic spills. Switching to electric boats helps minimise these everyday sources of pollution, contributing to cleaner and healthier waterways (The Green Blue).
“One litre of oil can pollute one million litres of water!”
Quiet Boating
Another advantage of electric boats is their quiet operation. Unlike traditional combustion engines, electric motors produce very little noise. This is beneficial for recreational boaters who want a more peaceful experience.
The quiet nature of electric boats also helps reduce disturbances to the marine environment, making them less disruptive to wildlife and aquatic habitats. This makes them an especially good option for areas where preserving natural surroundings is important.
Low Maintenance
Electric motor systems are generally simpler than traditional combustion engines because they have fewer moving parts. Unlike combustion engines, they do not require components such as oil filters, fuel pumps, or exhaust systems. This simplicity can lead to reduced maintenance requirements, as there are fewer parts that can wear out or fail. However, electric systems still require regular checks, particularly for the battery and electrical components, to ensure optimal performance.
compliance with increasing regulations
Governments are progressively tightening regulations to cut emissions and reduce noise pollution on the water. For instance, Amsterdam plans to ban combustion-powered boats in its city centre by 2025, requiring all vessels to be fully electric or hybrid to create an emissions-free zone. This shift is part of a broader trend, with other areas such as Lake Annecy in France also implementing similar bans on combustion engines. These measures are designed to protect the environment, reduce noise pollution, and support global efforts to meet the UN climate action goals.
FLEXITEEK
Since the launch of Flexiteek 2G in 2014 we have been working to develop a more sustainable synthetic decking product. The result is Flexiteek 3, made with bio-attributed PVC derived from tall oil (from trees). This material shares the properties of fossil-fuel-based PVC but avoids its environmental dilemmas.
The tall oil is produced from sustainable locations in Sweden, Finland and the USA and is certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) to meet the standard for advanced products. It also produces up to 80% less greenhouse gases when compared to fossil-fuel based PVC.
Combining Flexiteek 3 with an electric boat creates a vessel with a lower environmental impact. This pairing helps promote cleaner waterways and provides a more eco-friendly, sustainable boating experience.
In conclusion, electric boats paired with sustainable materials like Flexiteek 3 offer a cleaner and more eco-friendly boating experience, helping to reduce environmental impact and promote a more sustainable future for the marine industry.
Further Reading: