The much-hyped electric outboards from Mercury Marine are now officially available.
The Avator 20e and 35e platforms went into production in July at Mercury's Fond du Lac, WI facility, and will be available for purchase beginning August 29th, 2023.
The industry leading engine manufacturer began with the Avator 7.5e in 2022 and promised to deliver up to 5 new Avator motors by the end of 2023.
The initial 7.5e generates 750 watts of power, equating to roughly 3.5 standard horsepower. According to Mercury, the 20e and 35e will represent 2200W and 3700W of power, respectively, at the propeller shaft. The 20e will produce similar acceleration as a 5 hp FourStroke outboard, while the 35e will generate acceleration comparable to a Mercury 9.9 hp FourStroke outboard. Both will be offered with tiller or remote steering and will be ideal for powering small vessels like aluminum fishing boats, micro skiffs, rigid inflatables, tenders, and small pontoons.
Two more electric outboard products are expected to be announced by the end of the year as Mercury, and its owner Brunswick Corporation, has made significant commitments towards offering electric propulsion in the future.
“We’re thrilled to advance our electrification strategy and the Mercury Avator brand with the introduction of the 20e and 35e electric outboards,” said John Buelow, Mercury Marine president. “Building off the success of the Avator 7.5e, these outboards set new benchmarks for innovation, performance, and connectivity. The investment and advancements we’re making position Mercury to continue expanding our Avator portfolio and soon deliver additional industry-changing, low-voltage electric outboards.”
The 20e and 35e will feature many of the same features as the 7.5e including the industry's first "transverse flux motor technology," a full-color intuitive display, and an ambidextrous tiller handle. The new larger models offer more power and the ability to connect multiple Avator batteries to extend range and run time, plus full access to the Mercury Marine app with the integrated SmartCraft® Connect module.
“Avator outboards are intelligent, electric propulsion systems engineered to deliver a superior boating experience with flexibility to easily extend range and runtime,” said Tim Reid, Mercury Marine vice president of product development and engineering. “Up to four of Mercury’s new 2300Wh batteries can be connected and managed through our exclusive Power Center which safely merges power, enables communication between the batteries and outboard, and allows single point charging.”
Batteries and Chargers
The Avator 20e and 35e 2300Wh lithium-ion battery was developed in partnership with the Navico Group’s Mastervolt brand and engineered specifically for marine applications. The lithium battery banks are drop-tested and IP67 rated for water resistance.
Boaters will be able to connect directly to one 2300Wh battery for simplicity and portability, or extend their range and runtime by adding an Avator Power Center that connects up to four batteries. The Power Center unit is a central hub for power cable connections. Power cable connections to the battery are fast and easy with a toolless, twist-lock connector.
Avator smart chargers constantly monitor voltage and current to deliver an effective charge and will shut down to protect the battery if an issue arises. The 230W Avator charger can recharge a fully depleted 2300Wh battery in approximately 10 hours. The higher speed 520W charger is available and can cut charge time by more than 50%.
Motor and Performance
Avator’s transverse flux motor technology is designed to deliver quiet, reliable power. The 35e is 63% quieter than a 6hp four-stroke outboard at full throttle. The motor generates high torque with little effort, maximizing battery life and range while contributing to faster acceleration and more efficient overall performance. Propellers are crafted of a high-strength, impact-resistant composite material. Their three-blade design maximizes thrust for peak battery life with minimal noise.
Remote Controls
Avator digital controls deliver instant throttle response with zero hesitation and keep boaters connected with the outboard for easy, safe driving. There are three remote throttle controls designed to fit the helm styles popular on small boats.
Connected Devices
A Mercury SmartCraft® Connect module comes pre-installed on Avator 20e and 35e models, allowing boaters to wirelessly connect the outboard to the Mercury Marine app via mobile device. The app displays a range of performance data points, along with a GPS map with visualized range estimates for planning trips.
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