2-20-23 mercury marine electric outboard wins innovation award

Mercury Marine®, a division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), has received a Miami Innovation Award honoring the company’s first electric outboard offering in the marine marketplace. The Mercury Avator 7.5e electric motor, introduced in January 2023, took the top spot in the Electric Motor / Battery-Powered Propulsion / Hybrids category.  At a breakfast and ceremony Thursday on the grounds of the currently underway 2023 Miami International Boat Show (MIBS), the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) announced award winners in a variety of categories. The panel of judges that selected the winners was made up of Boating Writers International (BWI) members who perform product testing throughout the year and have substantial expertise in marine products.   “We are extremely pleased to receive this award, which validates what we are hearing from consumers around the world. It’s clear that the innovative features that we built into the Avator electric outboard motor are resonating among the growing proportion of consumers who see the value of electric propulsion,” said John Buelow, Mercury Marine president.   “Our outstanding team of engineers reinforced their reputation for developing new solutions and pioneering new technologies. And our thousands of manufacturing employees continue to demonstrate outstanding dedication and skill in bringing our innovative designs to life,” Buelow added.   Mercury developed the Avator 7.5e electric outboard with a mission to expand both access to and the sustainability of boating with its ease of use, connectivity and smart battery technology. The outboard generates 750W of power at the prop shaft, delivering performance in terms of speed and acceleration that is similar to that of a Mercury 3.5hp FourStroke outboard. Its swappable batteries, quick-connect mounting system and intuitive controls make setup and operation easy. A vivid full-color display tracks battery level and range, allowing boaters to confidently explore the water.   “Much thought went into the design of Mercury’s Avator, including the convenient exchange of the battery, the tiller that doubles as a carrying handle and the easy removal of the engine from the transom bracket,” said judge Zuzana Prochazka.   As the host of MIBS, the NMMA launched the Miami Innovation Awards in 2002 to recognize manufacturers and suppliers who bring to market new and innovative products for the boating industry. Each year, the judges confer awards to the products that exhibit outstanding innovation in comparison with other products currently being manufactured, bring benefits to the marine industry and/or consumers, and demonstrate both practicality and cost-effectiveness.