Honda used the Miami Boat Show to hint at a high-tech future with electric motors and full auto piloting
February 15, 2024 at 17:34
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Electric vehicles are a common sight on the road and electric watercraft are slated to populate the lakes of tomorrow. With that in mind, Honda Marine used the Miami International Boat Show to share their vision for the future.
While Honda isn’t giving up on internal combustion engines, they’re testing a 5 hp (4 kW / 5 PS) electric propulsion system in Japan. The company didn’t go into many specifics, but said the system uses the same motors as their small electric motorcycles.
Despite being in a “pilot testing” phase, Honda has big plans for the future as the company “intends to apply the same proprietary electrification technology to small outboard motors.” This suggests we can expect electric outboard motors in the future.
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Honda might be embracing electrification, but the company said they’re committed to a product portfolio that balances performance with a reduced environmental impact. The company went on to suggest we can expect six new outboard motors by 2030.
On the technology front, Honda said they’re developing a 360-degree surround view camera system to eliminate blind spots on boats. That’s a car-like innovation and the company is also working on “autonomous docking and trailering” to “reduce boater anxiety about maneuvering around fixed objects.” Slides from the presentation suggest the Multi-View Cockpit system will arrive around 2025, while the autonomous boating tech is due around 2026.
More: Honda Built Its First V8 And It Has VTEC – But It’s Not For Cars
Further out, Honda promised “full auto piloting.” The company also hinted at “omnidirectional and under water detection.”
While those features are a ways off, 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of Honda Marine and Keisuke Tsuruzono noted their environmental focus isn’t new as founder Soichiro Honda stated “Mobility on the water should not pollute the water.”
