🛥️ Marine Electrification
Miami Gardens startup pioneers the future of clean, electric boating
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Learn how Miami startup E-Force Marine is propelling the boating world with electric motors in our latest On Site video feature. Watch here.
Boating is more than a recreational sport here in Miami. As home to the International Boat Show and numerous marinas, it is an economic driver, supporting more than 140,000 jobs in South Florida alone and having an annual impact of $30 billion across Florida.
Florida also has the most registered boats in the country. However, those are all gas-powered, which can harm our oceans with air and water pollution. One solution is to go electric, which produces zero exhaust emissions.
When people think about electrification, they mainly think about cars. But boats have bigger tanks and need more energy, and as the boating capital of the world, that's a lot of emissions to consider. Imagine a future where Miami leads the charge in marine electrification, transforming our waterways into a cleaner, greener haven. This wave of innovation aligns with Opportunity Miami's mission for a resilient, forward-looking economy.
One local startup founder is propelling the boating world toward that future, starting with a converted 1988 Tiara yacht.
“I always wanted to experiment with electric,” said E-Force Marine founder Al Haghayegh. He couldn’t find anyone in the U.S. to help convert his boat from gas-powered to electric, so he decided to go at it himself with a team of local engineers.
Learn more in our latest On Site video feature with E-Force Marine.
“This was one of the most complex projects that I have tackled,” said Haghayegh, an electrical engineer by trade and an experienced product designer.
E-Force Marine makes fully electric, high-capacity lithium-ion battery engines for boats, which deliver about 80% energy savings, fewer emissions, less maintenance, and less environmental impact.
THE CLIMATE FACTOR
When Haghayegh purchased a power boat more than three decades ago, the first thing that bothered him was the noise. The second was the environmental impact.
That was how E-Force Marine started, with the desire to have a cleaner and quieter boating experience. Boats require tons of energy to operate compared to cars (180-gallon gas tank vs 10-12 for cars). But with the right battery, boaters will have more range for travel, save on energy costs (80%), and have little to no maintenance, a major expense for boat owners.
Haghayegh says his electric motors are designed for the environment while also providing the same boating experience as gas-powered motors, just with less noise. The engine was virtually silent the entire time we were on the boat and there was no noise when the boat was turned on.
KEEPING IT CLOSE TO HOME
E-Force is a family-run business with a warehouse in Miami Gardens. The company is seeking $5 million to begin production and go to market within the next year.
Haghayegh studied at Florida International University and his team is also Miami-based, which is one of the reasons why the company will remain based here. “There hasn’t been a whole lot of manufacturing in South Florida, but that’s changing,” he said. “I feel it’s a lot of people coming down to Miami to study and for the tech startups, so I believe this is going to take off.”
Once funding is in place, Haghayegh plans to hire at least five more local engineers and technicians.
FASTER CHARGING
Miami is also where all the electric boat manufacturers will want to showcase their boats to people, he said. The global electric boat market is valued at nearly $6 billion and growing. Locally, though, what’s needed for a smoother and faster transition to electric is more infrastructure.
“That would put this in a different trajectory once people know this is fast charging,” Haghayegh added.
He sees the future of electric boating to broaden into commercial boats as well as recreational because of the amount of savings in transitioning to electric. “It makes financial sense,” he said, adding:
“This is a great opportunity for [electric] boating to take place from here.”
Miami’s boating scene is evolving, more than just a ripple. Together, we can steer it toward a future where boating is both economically impactful and environmentally conscious—a true win for our community and coastline.
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Until next week,
Opportunity Miami
