Can a 300hp electric outboard power a heavy RIB? ExploMar Wave 300 tested

‘Expanding Access to High-Performance Electric Boating’, is how ExploMar describe their entry into the electric outboard market. In light of recent developments, it’s perhaps not surprising, particularly in the smaller power sector, that this blossoming market is already becoming a competitive space, with players both well-established and new to the fold, all vying for attention and market share.

So, who are ExploMar and when did their technology-based company journey begin? Founded in August 2021, ExploMar developed from an electric propulsion technology start-up into a company that within a quite short period of time was delivering product into more than 20 countries and regions across Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and South America, (the latest being the Maldives, UAE). Its development journey began with the WAVE 300 A-sample, in August 2022, followed by laboratory testing and the company’s first European order in December of the same year. In 2023, ExploMar completed the WAVE 300 B-sample, for onboard testing, debuted at international exhibitions, and expanded its portfolio with the introduction of the WAVE 150+ and WAVE 70+.

In January 2024, ExploMar completed its intelligent manufacturing base in Changshu, finalized the WAVE 300 C-sample, and commenced mass production. European deliveries of the WAVE 300 began in August 2024 and in March 2025, the company made its first appearance at the Shanghai Boat Show, marking the launch of its domestic market operations and product deliveries in China. Then, in 2026, ExploMar’s China ‘experience centre’ at Changshu UWC Innovation Island became operational, adding to its growing network of locations for electric boating experiences. In other words, ExploMar, have been on a rapid ascent and by anyone’s book, clearly mean business.

At the recent 2026 Cannes Yachting Festival, PBR had the opportunity of sea trialling a commercially spec’d, Gemini 880 Waverider RIB powered by a single ExploMar WAVE 300. (The ‘300’ reference relating to the fact ExploMar rate this motor as being equivalent to a 300hp 4-stroke). In terms of the test boat made available to us by ExploMar France, the WAVE 300 motor was powered by a single 180 kWh battery system. ExploMar’s recommended retail price for the WAVE 300 starts from €59,800 excluding VAT.

As for the boat itself, this was a Gemini 880 Waverider, which as many of you will know, is a substantial, commercially orientated RIB of some 1050kg. Something of a strange choice as a ‘testbed’ for a power system of this type. After all, the Waverider model was never developed as a prospect for electric power. On the contrary, the Waverider’s substantial layup, deep-vee hull, even its additionally heavy T-Top, have all been designed with the intention of having a pair of big petrol ‘guzzling’ outboards powering this all-weather, ‘mile muncher’ through the ocean. Nevertheless, in its initial test configuration, the WAVE 300 being demonstrated employed a 30-inch shaft and a 15.75 × 15-inch three-blade propeller, which, under best conditions and minimum load, ExploMar state is capable of pushing the 880 Waverider along at a top speed of 29 knots. But with 5 people up on the day of test, in settled conditions, flat seas, and of course, almost zero tide, we achieved closer to 22 knots. This was estimated, however, as the vessel was neither fitted with a speedo or a GPS to calculate speed.

ExploMar themselves recommend a cruising speed of 15 knots as being the economical pace to run this particular boat/engine combination, and indeed, I would agree. Although in terms of a boat of this stature that means, in reality, you’re only really just up on the plane. Plus, if one happened to encounter a seaway of any consequence at all, then you’d be needing to apply quite a lot more power again. This of course would mean the approximate 1 hour, and 30 minutes of running time granted by the test boat’s 180 kWh battery, would be reduced quite sharply. And as we discovered during our sea trial which entailed approximately 30 mins of high-end throttle time, after 30 mins of putting the rig through its paces, the motor went into ‘get you home’ power save to automatically conserve its remaining 20% energy reserve.

ExploMar told us that further optimization of the shaft length, motor mounting height, and propeller selection is expected to improve both speed and endurance and that their current development target is a top speed of approximately 35 knots, with up to 3 hours of endurance at 15 knots. (Since our test, ExploMar have told us that raising the height of the outboard has already lifted the Gemini’s top speed to 34 knots.) In terms of this 880 Waverider coupling though, I think ExploMar are likely being somewhat over-optimistic. But at the end of the day, this is all down to battery technology, of which the likes of the WAVE 300 are dependent upon. But who knows where battery advancements will lead? Maybe, the shift away from traditional liquid lithium-ion batteries towards solid state, sodium-ion, and advanced lithium manganese rich cells might provide the solution..? But, meantime, this leads me to my next point.

Right now, at least, in terms of France being a key territory for the brand, the Gemini 880 represents ExploMar’s approach to electric boating: combining big motor electric propulsion with battery, control, and charging technologies to deliver what ExploMar, understandably, hope will demonstrate a practical and engaging electric powered on-water experience.

But here’s the point I really want to stress; simply marrying two good products together, as good as they may be in isolation, doesn’t necessarily mean the joint result will be as good as the individual parts. In my view, as excellent a boat as the Gemini Waverider 880 is, (and I for one can bear personal testimony to that claim,) nonetheless, it is completely the wrong make and model for the likes of the WAVE 300 electric outboard to be properly and fairly assessed. In short, the Waverider is too heavy and features a deep-vee hull design that simply isn’t suited to this type of power.

The matter of electric propulsion needs to be approached holistically. Other than those used for ship-to-shore duties perhaps, or vessels whose prime role involves low speed operation, it’s critical that boats coupled to electric outboards must be designed from the outset specifically with this form of power in mind. A ‘general’ approach does not work. Unless care is taken and understanding is employed, it could even represent a costly mistake for the likes of a well-intentioned boat owner seeking to be more eco-sympathetic.

To avoid such an outcome, all the critical elements of the vessel’s design and make up, including such things as its dry weight, its maximum payload, battery placement, construction materials and crucially, its fluid dynamics, including the hull’s deadrise and chine system, must all be designed with the sole objective of ensuring the boat is truly electric power friendly. But if the electric outboard manufacturers take this matter seriously, we might well see what in my view needs to be done, to join these two needs up. In other words, for boats to be specifically, 100% designed for this form of power. This would entail forming alliances with design houses and naval architects, and where boat builders and boat brands would become genuine working partners of the electric outboard makers. Makers just like ExploMar for instance… And wouldn’t it be great if we saw the likes of ExploMar at some point in the future, launching a range of branded craft themselves, perhaps under licence? After all, ExploMar’s recent participation and successes in the Monaco Energy Challenge, might just give them an added appetite for such a move.

Today, ExploMar’s sea trial and experience network spans China, Thailand, Germany’s Lake Chiemsee, Hungary’s Lake Balaton, and France. These locations support product demonstrations and provide opportunities to evaluate electric propulsion in different boating environments and applications. If one of these locations is near you, I encourage you to take up the opportunity to go and try one of these motors yourself. I think you’ll be impressed by the quality of ExploMar’s engineering and the motor’s ergonomics. Qualities, which would suggest to me, that we are going to be hearing a lot more from this forward-thinking Chinese technology entity in the months and years to come.