ePropulsion Sustainably Mobilizes Hundreds of Sightseeing Bamboo Rafts on the Guilin Li River

Project Creates An Eco-friendly, Low-emission Tourist Destination to Preserve Tranquil Beauty of Popular Destination in China

Somerset, N.J. – ePropulsion, the global leader in marine electric propulsion systems and services, announced today the latest in the company’s continued efforts toward promoting sustainability and environmental preservation with their development of a customized electric propulsion solution for sightseeing bamboo rafts on the Li River.

ePropulsion developed a custom electric propulsion system, the longtail motor, for these sightseeing rafts based on actual usage statistics, working collaboratively with the local government to create a green, low-carbon tourist attraction. Prior to these efforts, the Li River had more than 2,000 rafts, all operated with traditional combustion engines. This project stands to significantly reduce air and water pollution of the river and its surrounding environment, as well as to enhance the tourist experience in a scenic hotspot. In addition to reducing environmental pollution, ePropulsion’s system has led to a reduction in noise pollution, with each raft now producing less than 60 decibels where they once created a din of over 120 decibels. This change makes for quiet and comfortable boating, allowing tourists to easily hear the natural sounds of the river and enjoy an enhanced sightseeing experience. In the first phase of the project, ePropulsion has electrified 700 of the bamboo rafts.

“We’re thrilled to have played a key role in developing sustainable boating along the River Li,” said Danny Tao, Co-founder and CEO of ePropulsion. “The beautiful landscape will be preserved for years to come with our ecological solutions, and our unique noise-reducing technology will ensure a boost in tourism to this idyllic and scenic environment. As a leader in global boat electrification, it’s an exciting and rewarding opportunity to jointly commit to protecting our water from pollution and coordinate the construction of green and low-carbon tourist attractions. The gradual delivery and use of pure electric sightseeing rafts marks the official entry of Li River tourism into a new energy era, propelling the project to the forefront of solving the environmental pollution problem of fuel-powered rafts in the region. In addition, the solution blends the beauty of modern technology with our traditional culture.” ePropulsion’s customized longtail electric propulsion system for the Li River rafts are designed to be easy to use and maintain, with a flexible control system whose thruster allows rafters to control turning, forward and reverse, and immersion depth with simple hand controls. The system also comes standard with a fully integrated, intelligent digital display that gives operators real-time access to operational data, including navigation information, speed and remaining power. The system has a maximum power of 9 kW and was designed by the ePropulsion team to be safe and reliable. It has a 230-amp-hour battery pack to stand up to the long-term endurance requirements of tourism operation and an IP67 protection rating that is water- and weather-proof as well as leak resistant. Part of the company’s work on this project included organizing training sessions for local bamboo raft operators on how to use the ePropulsion system effectively, laying the foundation for future operations and cementing the Li River as an eco-friendly, low-emission tourist destination.