In October 2024, we celebrated a milestone: the first solar-electric passenger boat in Odisha successfully completed trials on Chilika Lake and entered operation. You can read that full story here:
🔗 https://sandith.in/2024/10/14/first-solar-boat-in-orissa-trials-in-chilika/
That boat has now moved beyond the demonstration stage and into operational maturity — and today we’re excited to share its first major upgrade.
Listening to the Operator — Real Needs, Real Change
Once a vessel is in regular service, design assumptions meet daily reality.
The operators on Chilika told us:
“The boat works well. But we want to be on the water longer — every day.”
This simple request reflects a big shift: this is no longer about proving that electric boats can work, but about making them work hard, every single day.
Doubling the Battery, Doubling the Range
Originally, the boat was equipped with: 2 × 10 kWh battery packs, These served well for scheduled runs and were perfectly sized for the initial scope of operation. But with real-world usage data and operator priorities, we upgraded the vessel to: 2 × 20 kWh battery packs — double the energy storage.
The benefits are clear:
- Longer operation per charge
- More flexibility for scheduling and route planning
- Less downtime waiting for recharge
- Better resilience for high-season demand
Built for Duty — Not Just Recreation
One of the key learnings from this project has been the difference between leisure and commercial propulsion systems.
Typical Leisure Grade Electric Outboards
- Designed for 4–6 hours/day
- Used ~250 days/year
- Optimized for recreational use
Chilika’s Transport-Grade Pods
- Designed for 6–10 hours/day
- Expected to operate ~350 days/year
- S1 duty rated — continuous, industrial duty cycle
- Multiple sealing (3 no.s) and rugged casing
In short: this is not a weekend-boat motor — it’s a daily workhorse.
Even at a glance, the difference in build quality, sealing and industrial design is unmistakable. When electric propulsion transitions from leisure to public transport, that transition in hardware quality matters.
Trials Complete — Ready for Everyday Service
The upgraded system successfully completed trials on Chilika Lake today. With the larger battery and rugged propulsion package now validated, the vessel can serve longer routes and more demanding schedules without missing a beat.
This upgrade marks a significant step in making electric public transport boats not just environmentally sustainable — but operationally robust.
See It for Yourself
Next time you are in the Chilika area, don’t miss the chance to take a ride — and this time, make it a long one!
We’re proud of how far this project has come — from its first trial to a vessel that’s truly ready for daily service.
Sandith Thandasherry 