Why electric boats are a game-changer for rental companies
Electric boats are one of the best innovations our industry has seen, and there has been no better time to enter the market than now, benefiting from the latest and fastest chargers, and long-lasting batteries. There are so many extra perks available to you if you have electric boats among your fleet, including connecting your fleet for tracking, communication and collecting analytics to drive your business to the next level.
And electric boats are great for many more reasons! They’re also environmentally sustainable; have an easy charging process; enhance customer experience; and incur less administrative stress. Electric boats are a win for you, for the local environment, and for your adventure-seeking clients.
Environmental sustainability
Electric boats have emerged as a welcome change for locals living along inland waterways, rivers, canals, and the sea. The perception of combustion-engine motorboats as noisy and environmentally catastrophic has catalysed a shift in public sentiment. Electric boats are increasingly regarded as a positive alternative, enabling fun on the water while eliminating unpleasant smells, reducing noise pollution, and significantly minimizing harm to the environment.
Opting for electric boats will please local residents (and our first bit of business advice is to make friends out of your neighbours!), and demonstrate to potential customers that your company is committed to creating extraordinary experiences in a way that doesn’t cause harm to the local wildlife.
Everything you need to know about charging
Many business-conscious individuals in the industry are worried about battery life on an electric boat, and at Let’s Book we’re here to allay your fears. Compared to other electric vehicles, the battery life of an electric boat fares exceptionally well. And, more often than not, the electric boats in your fleet will end every day back where they started: at the charging station on your jetty, meaning they can be charged overnight ready to go the following day. Not to mention that thanks to Let’s Book’s, you can now monitor the battery life of each boat with live analytics wherever you are.
What’s more, charging your electric boat is almost too easy. The days of carrying jerry cans and fuel containers to the jetty and back every evening are over. With electric boats charging from ordinary electrical sockets, there’s no easier way to ‘re-fuel’ each day. In fact, right now is the perfect time to come into the market for electric boats, as businesses are benefitting from a constant stream of innovation, including new and improved chargers which have significantly decreased the time taken to charge an electric boat.
Digital access
Electric boats offer seamless integrations with software like Let’s Book, making them highly convenient for both operators and customers. With the help of modern technology, electric boats can be activated and deactivated using a remotely controlled relay. This enables you to grant customers temporary access to the boat through a digital key, enhancing the rental experience and eliminating the need for physical keys. Additionally, monitoring battery capacity is straightforward, providing real-time insights into boat availability and ensuring efficient fleet management.
Enhanced customer experience
Notable for their silence, onboard an electric boat passengers won’t be foced to shout to each other (a day out on a boat is not meant to resemble a family argument, after all) in order to be heard. While this means that customers can better embrace the tranquility of the water, enjoy the excited chatter of children fishing, or berate each other over a game of cards, it also greatly reduces the risk of an accident going unnoticed because a heavy engine isn’t blocking out other sounds. In similar vein, electric boats remove the risk of fuel spills and explosions on the water. Creating safe experiences should be a paramount concern for your company.
The increase in environmental consciousness has been matched by an increase in health awareness among the general public, and electric vehicles are seen as cleaner for our health as well as the environment. Electric boats emit no exhaust fumes or harmful gases such as CO2 or nitrogen oxide, gases known to cause damage to the respiratory organs and increase susceptablity to respiratory infections and conditions such as asthma. Turning to electric boats is to the benefit of public health, and the sensibilities of health-aware customers.
Get rewarded for your eco-friendly change
Turning towards electric boats also helps cut administrative work and associated costs, as it can be far easier to obtain a license when it comes to electric boats than combustion-engine motorboats. This varies from country to country and from regulatory body to regulatory body, but the concessions for electric boats are almost universal.
Governments are also some of the biggest champions of enterprises making sustainability a priority. Worldwide, governments have started implementing policies to encourage the adoption of eco-friendly
alternatives, from offering tax incentives (tax breaks and exemptions to individuals or businesses purchasing electric boats); financial assistance (grants or low-interest loans to promote the purchase of electric boats or motorboat conversion from combustion-engine to electric); and passing favourable environmental regulations that benefit companies using eco-friendly, electric vehicles in place of the older combustion-engine models.
Conclusion
Launching your new business journey with electric boats is an excellent choice, offering a range of benefits beyond environmental sustainability; and while environmental sustainability is increasingly important in and of itself, it can also unlock several other, more immediate rewards.
From fast tracking the license process to cutting administrative time and costs; creating a safer, more enjoyable experience for customers; and receiving favourable and generous financial assistance from governments, by switching to electric boats you can create a business model that works for you and your customers.
