A new electric outboard aimed at small boats
French electric-propulsion specialist TEMO has announced the T700, a new 700-watt outboard developed for tenders, dinghies and lightweight recreational craft. Published on 22 October 2026, the manufacturer’s technical introduction places the motor in a very different class from high-power electric drives intended to replace large petrol outboards. It is a compact product for short transfers and quiet local boating, with the company also identifying sheltered fishing trips, lakes and rivers among its likely uses.
The T700 is described as delivering power broadly equivalent to two horsepower, but owners should not interpret an equivalence label as a guarantee of identical acceleration or range to a particular petrol engine. Actual performance depends on the boat, loading, current, wind and propeller characteristics, and TEMO has not supplied a comprehensive independent speed-versus-distance test for different hulls. That makes boat suitability more important than the simple wattage number printed on the specification.
Perhaps the most distinctive aspect of the announcement is not the electric motor itself but the maker's attempt to make it understandable and repairable. TEMO calls its approach Open Machine Design, arguing that keeping major parts accessible can help owners and marine technicians maintain a relatively simple propulsion system for longer. This is an industrial-design statement as well as a practical promise, and it deserves scrutiny when the first units reach users.
Battery, weight and the real cruising question
TEMO lists a removable battery storing 594 watt-hours, nominal system voltage of 36 volts and an approximate operating time of one hour at full power. Those three figures help establish the intended operating envelope: the T700 is primarily suited to relatively short passages with reliable charging opportunities, not continuous long-distance propulsion. Since battery endurance varies with throttle setting, conditions and battery age, route planning needs a margin rather than a calculation that assumes ideal laboratory performance.
The complete motor, including battery, is listed at 10 kilograms, of which the removable battery accounts for three kilograms. That separation should make it easier to handle the motor and charge the battery away from a tender, particularly for owners who lift equipment aboard a larger yacht. It does not remove the need to assess the transom's mounting arrangement or to secure both components properly while under way and when the boat is being transported.
Static thrust is quoted at 18 kilograms, and the maker rates the motor enclosure IP67. The figures may be useful for initial comparison, but neither is a direct promise of speed, endurance or freedom from maintenance in salt water. Boaters moving between a mooring and the shore should ask about spare battery availability, charger compatibility, battery storage guidance and what the motor does when the remaining charge approaches its lower limit.
Open Machine Design and service access
Instead of hiding nearly every mechanical and electronic component under a continuous cover, the T700 uses two structural aluminium side plates as an exposed framework. TEMO identifies the brushless electric motor, controller, battery, display and throttle as separate accessible modules. The intended result is a propulsion unit that a technician can inspect and work on without dismantling an opaque housing simply to identify the relevant component.
The company says individual parts can be removed and replaced and that opening the motor does not, by itself, void the T700 warranty. That is a notable claim for customers worried that small electric products will become disposable when a single part fails. Nevertheless, the maker draws an important safety boundary: the sealed battery pack must only be opened or serviced by TEMO or an authorised service partner, so the broader repairability promise should not be mistaken for permission to repair lithium battery cells at home.
Modularity could also affect the whole-life costs of tender ownership. If a controller, tiller assembly or display can be repaired separately, a minor failure need not automatically lead to replacing the complete motor, although the actual benefit will depend on parts pricing, supply and technician availability. TEMO also suggests the architecture could accommodate future improvements, but prospective owners should regard upgrade compatibility as an intention until specific supported upgrades are announced.
Controls designed for everyday handling
The published design uses a brushless direct-drive inrunner motor, paired with a twist-grip throttle for ahead and astern control. TEMO says the foldable tiller can be adjusted into different positions, while a simple tilt mechanism and a universal transom mount are intended to simplify installation. Such details matter on tenders, where gear is often lifted in and out repeatedly and there may be limited room around seats, fuel lockers and boarding steps.
A small outboard also has to be usable by more than the person who bought it. Clear throttle response, an intelligible onboard display and a comfortable grip can make short docking manoeuvres less stressful for occasional operators, although the exact behaviour should be assessed during a supervised trial. Quiet operation may be welcome in anchorages and on inland waters, but it increases the importance of a good lookout around swimmers and other users who may not hear a boat approaching.
TEMO lists five colour options, which introduces a cosmetic choice into a product primarily sold on practical engineering. Appearance is likely to be secondary to portability, control and reliable after-sales support for most tender owners. The brand's published product information should also be checked against local navigation and propulsion rules, because permitted electric-motor use can vary between inland waterways, protected waters and coastal operating areas.
Price, delivery and the Amsterdam unveiling
The manufacturer lists the T700 at €1,390 including VAT on its European site, with first deliveries scheduled for April 2027. Those dates mean the product can be researched and pre-ordered now, but the announcement should not be described as evidence that customer units are already shipping. Buyers should confirm the currency, tax treatment, delivery destination and package contents with the vendor before comparing the quoted price with other outboards.
TEMO plans a world-premiere presentation at METSTRADE in Amsterdam from 17 to 19 November 2026, at stand 05.230. The company has also submitted the T700 for the DAME Design Awards, an application rather than an award win. That exhibition should offer marine professionals an opportunity to examine the exposed framework and ask how the approach translates into service documentation, spare-parts stocks and authorised support outside France.
For boaters, the most meaningful test will be whether the T700 remains straightforward after several seasons of wet tender use, repeated battery removal and routine handling. The basic proposition is attractive: modest power, low weight and a maker explicitly talking about service access instead of sealed disposability. Until independent on-water results and longer-term reliability records emerge, the strongest verified facts are TEMO’s published specifications, intended April deliveries and November display in Amsterdam.