Mercury Avator™ 20e & 35e - New Electric Outboard Engines

Mercury Marine® introduces the Avator™ 20e and 35e electric outboard engines – raising the bar for performance, ease of charging, and connectivity.

FOND DU LAC, Wisconsin (August 29, 2023) – Mercury Marine®, a subsidiary of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), introduced the new Avator™ 20e and 35e electric propulsion systems. These new models join Mercury’s electric propulsion lineup alongside the award-winning Avator 7.5e outboard, which was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2023. Two more electric outboards will be released in the coming months, as Mercury fulfills its commitment to be a leader in electric propulsion.

“We are excited to deliver on our electrification strategy under the Mercury Avator™ name with the launch of the 20e and 35e electric outboards,” said John Buelow, President of Mercury Marine. “Building on the success of the Avator 7.5e, these outboard engines set new benchmarks for innovation, performance, and connectivity. The investments and development we are making position Mercury to continue expanding the Avator portfolio and soon deliver more industry-changing low-voltage electric outboards”.

The 20e and 35e models share many innovative features with the 7.5e, including industry-first transverse flux motor technology, a high-contrast color smart display that is easy to read in any light condition, and an ambidextrous tiller. The new models offer greater power and the ability to connect multiple Avator batteries for extended range and runtime, as well as full access to the Mercury Marine app with the integrated SmartCraft® Connect module.

The Avator 20e and 35e outboards produce 2200W and 3700W of power, respectively, at the prop shaft. The acceleration of the 20e is comparable to that of a 5hp four-stroke, while the 35e is directly comparable to a Mercury 9.9hp four-stroke engine. Both models are available with a tiller or remote control and are ideal for powering small vessels, including aluminum fishing boats, micro skiffs, rigid inflatable boats (RIBs), tenders, and small boats.

“Avator outboards are intelligent electric propulsion systems designed to offer a superior boating experience with great flexibility so the operator can easily extend range and runtime,” said Tim Reid, Vice President of Product Development and Engineering at Mercury Marine. “Up to four of Mercury’s new 2300Wh batteries can be connected and managed through our exclusive Power Center, which safely manages power, enables communication between the batteries and the engine, and allows for single-point charging”.

The 20e and 35e outboard engines will be available for sale this fall.

Batteries and Chargers

The Avator 20e and 35e 2300Wh lithium-ion battery was developed in collaboration with the Mastervolt brand of the Navico Group and was designed exclusively for marine applications. It is a safe, reliable power source that has undergone drop testing and is IP67-rated for water resistance.

Users can choose to connect the engine directly to a single 2300Wh battery for simplicity and portability or extend range and runtime by adding an Avator Power Center and connecting up to four batteries. The Power Center serves as a central hub for power cable connections, allowing for a clean and organized installation on the boat. Power cable connections to the battery are quick and easy, featuring tool-less twist-lock connectors.

Avator smart chargers constantly monitor voltage and current to provide safe, efficient charging, and the safety management systems shut down the charge to protect the batteries if a problem occurs. The Avator 230W charger can recharge a fully depleted 2300Wh battery in approximately 10 hours. A higher-speed 520W charger is also available, which can reduce charging time by more than 50%.

Motor and Performance

The Avator series utilizes industry-first transverse flux motor technology, which delivers reliable and quiet power. Key performance highlights include:

Noise Reduction: The Avator 35e electric outboard is 63% quieter than a 6hp four-stroke outboard at wide-open throttle.
Efficiency and Torque: The motor generates high torque with minimal effort at low RPMs. This maximizes battery life and range while providing faster acceleration and more efficient overall performance compared to similar competitive products.
Propellers: Avator propellers are crafted from a high-strength, impact-resistant synthetic material. Their three-blade design is engineered to maximize thrust while ensuring peak battery longevity and minimal noise.

Controls

Avator digital controls provide immediate throttle response with zero lag, creating a direct connection between the motor and the operator for easy and safe driving. Three different throttle controls are available, designed to fit the most popular steering systems used on small boats.

Device Connectivity

The Avator 20e and 35e models come pre-installed with the unique Mercury SmartCraft® Connect system. This allows owners to wirelessly connect their motor to the Mercury Marine app on their mobile devices. The app displays:

Operating and performance data.
GPS maps with visualized range estimates to assist in trip planning.

Commitment to Sustainability

The Avator program reinforces Mercury’s commitment to redefining marine propulsion across all its product lines in ways that leave a positive environmental impact. These outboard engines transform the boating experience by: