Here’s electrifying news for Mercury Marine fans; the engine manufacturer has just introduced the first in a series of electric outboard products for 2023!
During the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, NV on January 4, Mercury Marine (a division of Brunswick Corporation) unveiled the new Mercury Avator 7.5e electric outboard. In an official press release, the company called Avator “Mercury’s next step forward in marine innovation,” while advancing along in its commitment to be the leader in electrified propulsion.
Mercury also plans to display concepts for its Avator 20e and 35e outboards, which will be in the market later in 2023.
“We are excited to formally introduce the Avator 7.5e electric outboard to the world,” said Chris Drees, Mercury Marine president. “As the innovation leader in the marine industry, both in internal combustion products and now electric propulsion, we have the resources and knowledge to make boating more accessible to more people, while building on our commitment to sustainability. The Avator program is helping us do this in new and exciting ways.”
The Avator 7.5e outboard generates 750W of power at the prop shaft and produces similar speed and acceleration as a Mercury 3.5-horsepower FourStroke outboard. Offered with tiller or remote steering, it’s ideal for powering many small boats, including tenders, jon boats, inflatables and kayaks.
“The Avator 7.5e is much more than just an outboard,” said Tim Reid, Mercury Marine vice president of product development and engineering. “We created an entire propulsion system, fully integrated from the advanced controls, props and digital gauges to an all-new mobile app. Every aspect was designed with the same attention to quality, durability and reliability as all Mercury products. We’re confident the Avator 7.5e outboard will deliver a superior boating experience for boaters interested in powering small vessels with electric propulsion.”
The Avator 7.5e electric outboard delivers clean, quiet power with innovative features that make it simple for boaters to enjoy the water. Swappable batteries, a quick-connect mounting system and intuitive controls make setup and operation easy. A vivid full-color display tracks battery level and range, for confidently exploring the water.
With its high-efficiency design and advanced lithium-ion battery system, the Avator 7.5e electric outboard is engineered to optimize range. The 1kWh lithium-ion battery was developed in partnership with the battery experts at Mastervolt and engineered exclusively for marine duty. It’s a safe, reliable 48-volt power source that’s been drop-tested and IP67 rated for water resistance.
Smart chargers constantly monitor voltage and current to deliver a safe, effective charge and can shut down to protect the battery if there is an issue. An intelligent digital display continuously tracks your current power status and estimated runtime.
Industry-first transverse flux motor technology delivers reliable, quiet power. The motor generates high torque with little effort, maximizing battery life and range while contributing to faster acceleration and more efficient overall performance than similar competitive products.
“The Avator program continues Mercury’s commitment across all product lines to redefine marine propulsion in ways that leave a positive impact on the environment,” the company said in its release, noting how Avator outboards transform the boating experience by making boating possible with no exhaust fumes and zero direct emissions. Each electric outboard is also crafted with many components that are recyclable or reusable, and Mercury Marine called it “Incredibly calm, quiet and smooth, the Avator 7.5e outboard helps boaters to fully immerse themselves in nature.”
The Avator 7.5e electric outboard is the first propulsion system from Mercury to be compatible with the all-new Mercury Marine app, available for iOS and Android devices. Boaters can access the app for free to enjoy basic functionality, including a library of tutorials and the ability to connect with a preferred dealer for expert support. Adding a Mercury SmartCraft Connect module to the outboard unlocks advanced features of the app. This includes a GPS map for planning your trips and visualized range estimates so you can confidently explore. The app can also be used to track speed, battery level, outboard hours and system notifications, and provides the most complete set of performance data available for any electric outboard.
Learn more about Avator and Mercury’s vision for electrification at MercuryMarine.com/Avator.