Always looking towards the future, MarineServices.ie has been very keen to become the first major player in Ireland to offer electric propulsion systems to the leisure and commercial marine sectors in Ireland.

With some experience through the RS Sailing RS 21 Keelboat that is powered by a small E-Propulsion Spirit engine, MarineServices.ie was keen to develop the product offering further.

The E Propulsion Spirit 6

In tandem with this, EPropulsion, which started through a love of water sports and robotics by founder Danny Tao in China in 2012, has grown its range of products over the last number of years. The company has grown to become one of the market leaders in electric propulsion technology and now offers a very wide range of products that can be tailored to different watersports requirements.

The entry range is the Vaquita series for paddleboards, followed by the Spirit range, which can be seen in the RS 21 and is also available as an outboard for use on small tenders or as auxiliary power on a small keelboat such as a J80. The Navy range moves up to the 9.9-15hp outboard motor for larger tenders.

ePropulsion X40

Recently released are the X Series outboard motors that come in three sizes ranging from 12-40kw (16-53HP). This show-stopping outboard really is a game changer with electric steering and customisable drive modes that are really bringing the future here faster than you can imagine.

The i-Series inboard motors ranging from 10-40KW are effectively bolt-in replacements for shaft-driven yachts and other vessels. These super silent engines deliver range-topping torque with no noise, vibration or emissions.

Powering the x-series and i-series range is the 96v G-Series Lithium Iron Phosphate battery system. This battery system is extremely reliable, being impact-resistant and drop-proof while having three times higher energy density and 70% less weight than comparable lead-acid batteries. These batteries are guaranteed to 3,000 cycles at 80% and are controlled by individual battery management systems, ensuring the longest battery life on the market.

Lorcan Tighe and Kenneth Rumball of MarineServices recently undertook an intensive training, installation, and maintenance course in the UK to become the first certified eSSA - ePropulsion Smart System Architecture technicians in Ireland.

A state-of-the-art solution combining ePropulsion’s most advanced hardware and software technology.

eSSA takes the X-ECU in the I and X series motors as the core and integrates the electric drive system,

interactive displays, battery system and the internet cloud into one. It features a smart and modular design to deliver a safe and reliable performance and supports the integration of the ePropulsion Connectivity Service and update system.

Lorcan and Kenneth can now safely supply, install and maintain any of the ePropulsion products and are the only persons certified to do so in Ireland.

MarinesServices had a 3hp Spirit outboard electric engine on display after the Turkey Shoot Racing in the RIYC every Sunday.

This engine is available for demonstrations as well as the same pod that is installed in the RS21 keelboat that is also racing in Dublin Bay and has been throughout the season with full reliability from its ePropulsion engine.

In early 2024, Lorcan and Kenneth will begin the first iSeries installation on the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat Schools Elan 36 training yacht, converting it to electric power using the i20 engine from the propulsion range with 2 G-Series batteries.

Lorcan Tighe (pictured) and Kenny Rumball of Marine Services completed intensive training, installation, and a maintenance course in the UK to become the first certified eSSA - ePropulsion Smart System Architecture technicians in Ireland

Finally, in January 2024, expect to see the first X-Series outboard powering across Dublin Bay as the first of the electric outboards on a RIB is due to land in Ireland.