Evie the Electric Inflatable at Westhaven Marina

The New Zealand made boat is a standard inflatable which is equipped with twin 10kW ePropulsion outboard motors and a 22kW lithium battery pack. The onboard battery pack sustains Evie for nine hours at the marina's speed limit of five knots and can be fully recharged in six hours while berthed at a standard power pedestal within the marina.

The electric boat is proving to be ideal for in-marina patrolling and security operation, plus it is quiet and emission free.

“Regular petrol patrol boats often spend considerable time idling, leading to fuel wastage, increased emissions, and accelerated wear and tear on engines.”, says Gareth Wilson, Westhaven Marina Manager.

“This trial is another step in our continuous efforts to support sustainable environmental initiatives here at Westhaven and minimise our impact on the environment, preserving our marine ecosystem for future generations.” 

Evocean are tenants in the Westhaven Marina, so Eke Panuku has taken the long-term view to partner and test any products or vessels with the company as they develop new technology.

As far as replacing the full fleet with electric vehicles, Gareth says: “There are many factors that help us decide whether we move to a fully electric vehicle (EV) fleet. While EV’s are not new, an EV performing all the required tasks in the marina is. They are not yet tried and tested in all marina functions and weather conditions, but we certainly hope they can achieve the required level.”

Westhaven Marina has been certified as a Clean Marina since 2011 and received 4 Gold Anchor accreditation in 2022 (equivalent to a 4-star hotel accreditation). It has a number of sustainable initiatives, including shore-side raingardens for stormwater run-off, hydrocarbon filters to capture litter; eco-friendly bathrooms, and the popular Kai Ika Project which utilises fish heads and frames instead of them going to waste.