TEMO launches clever new electric boat motor in the US

This one is about boats, not houses, but it's a neat bit of electrification news. French company TEMO is bringing a new electric boat motor, the OUTPOD, to the US, debuting at the United States Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Maryland, October 15-18. It's designed for sailboats and bolts onto the back of the boat without requiring any drilling below the waterline, unlike traditional built-in "pod drives." Sailors can also lift the whole motor out of the water while sailing to cut drag, then drop it back in for maneuvering, or to generate power from the spinning propeller.

The system comes in two sizes: the OUTPOD 1000, starting at $2,600, and the larger OUTPOD 3000, at $5,400. Both run on removable batteries that can be charged on board, swapped out, or topped up with solar power. The motor also works with a boat's existing 48-volt battery bank if compatible.

There's no direct tie-in to home energy upgrades here, but it's a good example of how electric motors keep finding their way into new places, in this case, sailboats, with designs built around battery swapping and renewable charging rather than simply bolting an electric motor where a gas one used to go.