One of the common questions we receive at EMO Electric is something related to the differences between the ePropulsion Spirit Evo and the ePropulsion Spirit 1.0 Plus. They're both great electric outboards that share more similarities than differences. In short, the ePropulsion Spirit 1.0 Plus is the less expensive base model, and the ePropulsion Spirit Evo is slightly more expensive and has a few extra features. Some of the similarities between the two electric outboards are:
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The ePropulsion Spirit Evo and the ePropulsion 1.0 Plus are both 3hp/1kW electric outboards; there is no difference in power between the two. Both electric outboards use the same direct drive electric motor.
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The ePropulsion Spirit Evo and the ePropulsion 1.0 Plus both require very little maintenance and do not need to be winterized like a gas outboard. Regular maintenance is generally limited to rinsing the shaft with fresh water after use in salt water and keeping the electrical contacts clean.
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The ePropulsion Spirit Evo and the ePropulsion 1.0 Plus both have push button electric start. Say goodbye to the pull cord!
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The ePropulsion Spirit Evo and the ePropulsion 1.0 plus typically use the same 1276Wh Spirit Battery, although they can both be used with ePropulsion E series batteries or third party batteries. The Spirit battery even floats if it's dropped in the water!
- The Spirit Battery used for both the Spirit Evo and Spirit 1.0 Plus comes with a standard charger that plugs into a wall outlet and takes about 8.5 hours to charge from 0% to 100%. There is also a fast charger option that also uses a regular wall outlet but reduces the charge time to 3.5 hours. ePropulsion also makes a solar charge controller and 12 volt charger for the Spirit Battery. The E series batteries can be charged with a 25 amp AC charger or a solar charge controller.
- The ePropulsion Spirit Evo and the ePropulsion 1.0 plus have the same tilt and trim mechanism that allows the user to have the motor locked up or down, or anti-grounding mode, where the motor is down but not locked. This feature is useful in shallow water, as it allows the motor to raise up in the event of a grounding, but it's important not to use reverse in anti-grounding mode as that will cause the electric outboard to lift up.
- The range of the ePropulsion Spirit Evo and the ePropulsion 1.0 plus is the same. Regardless of which battery you choose to power your electric outboard with, the range will be the same for both motors. The run times for the Spirit with the Spirit battery is in the table below.
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The ePropulsion Spirit Evo and the ePropulsion 1.0 plus use the same propeller.
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The ePropulsion Spirit Evo and the ePropulsion 1.0 plus are both extremely quiet electric outboards; there is no difference in sound level between the two.
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There is no substantial difference in weight between the ePropulsion Spirit Evo and the ePropulsion 1.0 plus. The Spirit battery weighs 19.2 pounds. The short shaft version of both motors weighs about 23 pounds. Weight varies slightly between the different shaft lengths, and the Spirit Evo used with a remote throttle is a bit lighter given it does not have a tiller.
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Both the ePropulsion Spirit Evo and ePropulsion 1.0 Plus have forward and reverse. There is no need to spin the motor around to go in reverse, which is the case with many small gasoline outboards.
As you can see, both motors are quite similar. The Spirit 1.0 Plus is currently priced at $2799 USD. The Spirit Evo has a few extra features, and it currently retails for $3129 USD. Some of the features unique to the Spirit 1.0 Plus are:
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The Spirit 1.0 Plus is available in three shaft lengths: extra short, short, and long. The Spirit Evo is not available in extra short shaft, only short or long. The extra short shaft size is designed for transoms that are around 15.5 inches in height.
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The ePropulsion Spirit 1.0 Plus has a built in tiller handle. The tiller handle folds down all the way, and can tilt upwards slightly, but it cannot be removed from the motor.
- The screen on the tiller of the ePropulsion Spirit 1.0 Plus is not backlit. It gives information on range, power output, and state of charge. State of charge is displayed in voltage as well as a ring that rounds the state of charge to the nearest 10%.
Most of our customers end up purchasing the ePropulsion Spirit 1.0 Plus, although some do opt for the ePropulsion Spirit Evo because it has a few additional features that are important to some users. The additional features of the ePropulsion Spirit Evo electric outboard include:
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The option to use the Spirit Evo with a tiller or remote throttle. The remote throttle can be wired to the Spirit Evo but can also connect via Bluetooth. Customers who use the remote throttle can hook up a standard steering wheel and cables to steer their boat. Sailors will often choose to skip the steering wheel, use the locking pin to keep the motor centered, then steer with their boat's rudder. The top mount throttle is pictured below, but there is also a side mount option.
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The display on the Evo Remote Throttle and the Evo Tiller are the same. These displays are backlit and show state of charge in percentage, anywhere from 0% to 100%. The displays also gives real time range data and is richer than the display of the ePropulsion 1.0 Plus.
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The ePropulsion Spirit Evo electric outboard has a hydrogeneration function that can be helpful for sailors. Users can leave the Spirit Evo down while sailing, and the spinning propeller will charge the battery. It is important to note that this function does not work with third party batteries, and boat speed must be above 6 knots for the power generated to be meaningful.
- The ePropulsion Spirit Evo is compatible with a remote safety wristband that can be used in lieu of a traditional kill switch. These safety wristbands look like a Fitbit and up to ten can be connected to one motor. In the even of a man overboard, the wristband senses that it's too far away from the motor or has been submerged in water, which will turn the motor off.
In short, the ePropulsion Spirit 1.0 Plus is our best selling electric outboard motor, and it gets the job done for the majority of our customers. The customers who choose to upgrade to the ePropulsion Spirit Evo usually do so because of the remote throttle capability. The Evo also offers more flexibility for the future in that you can switch between the tiller and remote throttle. Both motors are a major upgrade from gas! Feel free to send us an email or leave us a comment if you have any questions. You can use the links below to purchase either electric outboard from our store.