San Diego Firm Builds Oceangoing Electric Vessel
By: Ambrosia Sarabia | Thursday, February 04, 2010 12:00:00 AM
SAN DIEGO – Visitors to the San Diego Sunroad Boat Show may have caught a glimpse of the future when they saw Electro-Mariner’s newest prototype, Charge-It — an environmentally friendly, electrically powered boat that allows mariners to boat clean and green, in the open ocean.
Unlike many other electric vessels that are designed for harbor cruises and puttering around in protected waters, Charge-It was created for oceangoing boaters. The prototype is the first design by the company, which plans to release its new line later this year.
Locals may have witnessed the vessel make its maiden voyage last September, when it made a 20-mile run from Mission Bay to San Diego Bay. The 25-foot prototype was featured at both the inaugural San Diego Sunroad Boat Show and the San Diego International Auto Show, where attendees praised the boat for its advanced design.
“That was a positive experience for us,” said Alan Leff, director of business development for Electro-Mariner. “The overwhelming feedback we got was it is about time someone was doing this in the marine industry.” >>Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Electro-Mariner's "Charge It" Wins Runner Up for Best Commercial Motor Boat
San Diego Bay SAN DIEGO – The 38th Annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights was held on Sunday, December 13th & 20th. Electro-Mariner proudly introduced Charge It to the interest of many San Diegans and regional media. Charge It was awarded "Runner Up" for "Best Commercial Power" boat.
View Electro-Mariner's media page for coverage of the event. For information on Charge It, please contact sales@electromariner.com.
Electric concept boat charges onto scene
‘A great idea’ — vessel to debut at Parade of Lights tomorrow
By Mike Lee, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Saturday, December 12, 2009
An environmentally friendly concept boat that a group of fishing buddies dreamed up five years ago will make its public debut tomorrow night during the 38th annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights.
If plans pan out, the holiday show will be the first of many appearances for a line of solar-electric boats fashioned by Electro-Mariner Corp. of Sorrento Valley. The vessels will cost about 20 percent more than their conventional counterparts, but they won’t emit all the air pollutants of combustion engines.
The first boat, Charge It, is a 25-foot express-style vessel that its owners call a “mule” because it’s an amalgam of parts and ideas. A more sophisticated, shallow-hull prototype on the drawing board for next year will be about 8 feet longer and 15 times more powerful.
“We have got a winner here,” said Robert Ferran of Clairemont, an engineer and avid fisherman who founded the company. “We are talking about jobs for hundreds and hundreds of people in San Diego if this company gets off the dock.” >>Read More