Vision Marine Technologies Partners with Octillion Power Systems
Yesterday, Vision Marine Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: VMAR) announced it has partnered with Octillion Power Systems to develop a customized high-voltage 35 KW high-density battery exclusively for use within the recreational boating market. Under the terms of the agreement, Octillion will manufacture a new advanced electric battery system to power VMT’s E-Motion™ 180-hp electric outboard.
“There is currently a two-year delivery backlog of performance batteries in the boating industry, “ said Alexandre Mongeon, co-founder and CEO of Vision Marine. “Our agreement with Octillion will allow Vision Marine to continue to scale production and secure the quantities of high-density electric battery systems required in conjunction with the commencement of sales of our E-Motion™ outboard powertrains.”
Added Xavier Montagne, COO of Vision Marine, “There is growing demand from major electric vehicle OEMs for electric motors. Collaborating with Octillion will allow us to expeditiously deliver fully electric motors equipped with state-of-the-art energy storage systems and further secure our supply chain.”
Mongeon said, “Vision will have a highly efficient and unique battery system to utilize in conjunction with our E-Motion™ fully electric powertrain. These new platforms will encompass both state-of-the-art, rich energy density solutions, as well as extreme high-power options.”
Batteries to Fit Any Boat
According to VMT, the configuration of the battery pack is smaller than that of a typical fuel tank, which in turn makes it easier to custom fit in virtually any boat. The high-density battery systems will more easily fit in sportboats powerboats and pontoon boats ranging from 18’ to 30’ (5.48 m to 9.14 m), with narrow hulls and compartments, said a VMT spokesperson.
Octillion is a Proven Supplier
A market leader in supplying electric vehicle battery systems, Octillion has been dedicated to driving clean energy solutions since 2009, by designing and building lithium-ion battery systems for electric cars, trucks and buses. According to VMT, Octillion has delivered nearly 400,000 electric vehicle battery systems for the global market, with more than 4.5 billion kilometers driven on Octillion’s battery systems.
Octillion is a turnkey battery supplier for the transportation market providing its customers with a bridge from design to manufacturing. Octillion’s products undergo a robust design process, according to the company, including extensive thermal modeling, fully integrated battery management systems and standardized production processes that offer a customized-package solution.
“Octillion is excited to support Vision Marine and its efforts to revolutionize the recreational boating industry,“ said Paul Beach, President of Octillion. “By partnering with Vision Marine on this project, Octillion is excited to expand its energy storage brand into the marine industry.”
Octillion was founded in 2009 by a group of engineers in the US and China. Dr. Peng Zhou is chairman and co-founder of Octillion. After graduation from Stanford University with a PhD in mechanical and electrical engineering, Dr. Zhou accumulated more than 16 years of experience in the global advanced energy storage industry. Dr. Zhou previously served as director of Tesla’s research and development from 2006 to 2008 and chief engineer for Tesla’s Model S powertrain.
Octillion holds more than 270 patents covering key battery management technologies, including liquid-cooling systems, battery thermal runway detecting systems, thermal management modules, battery-safety monitoring methodologies and overcharging prevention techniques.
The company has a sales, service, engineering and prototyping quarters in California and in India, in addition to its Chinese production facility.
Mass Production by McLaren/Linamar
In October 2021, Vision Marine announced a manufacturing and supply agreement with Linamar Corporation’s subsidiary McLaren Engineering for the testing, manufacture and assembly of the Company’s E-Motion™ electric powertrain to commercially scale production.
With the battery and the production facilities secured, Vision Marine Technologies is in the unique position of having the only high-horsepower electric outboard, that has been announced, that will be able to scale up production with demand growing later this year.
Electric outboard motors are particularly well-suited for pontoon boats and other types of watersports vessels. VMT management estimates 70,000 pontoon boats are expected to be sold in the United States in 2022, and approximately 380,000 outboard motors. More than 93,000 outboards rated at more than 150 hp were sold in 2020.
Electric Motor Advantages
Notwithstanding that most major ICE (internal combustion engine) makers have announced plans to abandon this carbon-based technology, increasingly consumers all over the world are taking a serious look at battery powered motors. Articles on this subject score the highest in BoatTEST’s readership metrics.
In addition to not leaving a carbon footprint, electric outboard motors are generally quiet and have low vibration. Their torque is considerable and with equivalent, and even less, horsepower, electric outboards are quicker off the line than standard 4-stroke outboards. Even more important, they are virtually maintenance free, which saves owners money and time.
The one drawback they have currently is limited range at planing speeds, due the lower energy density in batteries vis-à-vis gasoline. With scientists and electrical engineers all over the world working to improve battery energy density, however, experts are predicting significant improvements in the near future.
About Vision Marine Technology (VMT)
VMT claims to be the first fully-electric, purpose-built 180-hp outboard powertrain system that combines an advanced battery pack, inverter and high efficiency motor. Further, VMT says it has a proprietary union assembly between the transmission and the electric motor design utilizing extensive control software.
In addition, Vision Marine continues to design, innovate, manufacture and sell handcrafted, environmentally friendly, electric recreational power boats to customers. These are mostly dayboats for protected water and genteel excursions, operating at displacements speeds.
The company also owns a fleet of its own excursion boats in the rental trade in Southern California. Because VMT builds and operates electric boats, it is in an excellent position to take advantage of the coming transition to electrical marine propulsion.
For more information about Vision Marine Technology, click here…