Bosch Engineering introduces its integrated 160hp EDM electric inboard to North American boatbuilders at IBEX, with motor, gearbox, inverter, cooling and charger assembled as one unit.
Bosch Engineering used the International BoatBuilders' Exhibition and Conference in Tampa to make the US show debut of its Electric Drive for Marine Applications, or EDM, a packaged high-voltage propulsion system intended for boats and smaller commercial vessels. In its official announcement dated 6 October 2026, the company described a complete inboard assembly designed to reduce the amount of development work required when a yard introduces electric propulsion into an existing platform or a new hull.
The German engineering business states that the EDM delivers 160 horsepower continuously and has a quoted assembly weight of approximately 180 kilograms. This gives a stated power density around 0.7 kilowatts per kilogram, a meaningful figure for builders trying to accommodate propulsion equipment within compact machinery spaces without excessive structural redesign. Bosch showed the system at IBEX after presenting the concept to European marine buyers previously.
The complete unit combines an electric motor, gearbox, inverter, onboard charger, heat exchanger, electronic control box and cooling pumps. Bosch also supplies associated high- and low-voltage wiring, a charging inlet and cockpit display and controls, bringing several interfaces that normally require separate sourcing into one proposed integration package.
The high-voltage battery is not included in the delivery. Instead, Bosch says it advises on compatible options while allowing each builder or integrator to select storage according to available space, operating profile and required energy capacity. That distinction prevents the 160hp output figure from being interpreted as evidence of a particular range or voyage duration, which cannot be calculated without the battery system and the hull's operating conditions.
The company also describes thermal management extending beyond the propulsion unit to temperature control for the selected battery, along with guided diagnostics and responses to faults. On any yacht or tender, installation approval and operational safety depend on the actual insulation, isolation, protection, ventilation, cooling and emergency procedures, as well as the unit's advertised convenience.
A compact factory-integrated inboard may appeal to builders of chase boats, ship-to-shore shuttles and support craft that spend significant time making short transfers and manoeuvring around marinas. Such users may place particular value on quiet low-speed operation and the ability to recharge reliably during well-defined duty cycles. That does not establish suitability for every superyacht tender, especially where high-speed runs, towing, rough-weather operations or remote servicing are central to the mission.
Bosch says the compact dimensions are comparable with those of an internal-combustion inboard of similar output, opening possible retrofit applications. Real-world conversion would still require naval-architecture review for weight distribution, shaft alignment, batteries, charging and the emergency response expected of a crewed support craft. The correct electrical installation will also depend on flag-state, class and equipment requirements applicable to the vessel.
Bosch Engineering GmbH is a subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH, developing tailored propulsion and electronic systems using technology and processes drawn from larger automotive programmes. Alongside the integrated EDM product, the company offers the more configurable Electric Drive System Platform, where motors, controls, inverters and gearboxes can be supplied in modular combinations.
For shipyards seeking additional electric-drive options, the IBEX development is significant because it provides a second route alongside individually engineered powertrains. The official accompanying photograph depicts Bosch's marine-electrification activity rather than a named yacht installation, and the company has not announced an EDM contract for a particular superyacht in this release.
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