We stock both of these brands. That is worth saying up front, because most Torqeedo vs ePropulsion comparisons online come from dealers who carry one of the two, and it shows. We rig, sell and service both lines out of our Scarborough shop, so we have no reason to bend the verdict either way. What follows is how the two lineups actually stack up in 2026, with Canadian prices from our own shelves.
Both companies build portable electric outboards around the same idea – a direct-drive motor with a lithium battery you carry to the boat. Torqeedo is the German original, building lithium marine drives since 2005. ePropulsion arrived later, showed its first Spirit at METS in 2014, and has been closing the gap ever since. In the portable class they are the two names that matter.
What Replaced the Travel 1103C and the Spirit 1.0 Plus
If you last shopped this category a few years ago, the model names have moved on. Torqeedo retired the Travel 1103C and rebuilt the range as the Travel XS, the Travel S and the Travel XP. The XP is the one that changes the conversation. At 1,600 W it is the strongest integrated-battery outboard Torqeedo has built, rated as a 5 hp equivalent for boats up to 2 tonnes.
ePropulsion answered from the other direction. The ePropulsion Spirit 2 moves the Spirit platform from 1 kW to 2 kW continuous, with a 3 kW Boost Mode on the tiller version, while the powerhead itself stays at 10.2 kg (22.5 lb). The Spirit 1.0 Plus and Spirit 1.0 Evo remain in the range as the 1 kW options, and below them sits the 6.7 kg (14.8 lb) eLite 500W for canoes and small tenders.
The older 1103C and first-generation Spirits still turn up on the used market, and they were solid motors. If the budget is tight, our pre-owned marine motors shelf is where they land when they come through the shop.
Spirit 2 vs Travel XP – Flagship Against Flagship
These two are the natural head-to-head. Similar battery capacity, similar mission, different philosophies.
| Spirit 2 vs Travel XP | ePropulsion Spirit 2 | Torqeedo Travel XP |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous power | 2,000 W (3,000 W Boost, tiller) | 1,600 W |
| Rated equivalent | 2 kW class | 5 hp |
| Motor weight | 10.2 kg (22.5 lb) | 12.6 kg (27.8 lb) |
| Combined weight with battery | 20.6 – 21 kg (45.4 – 46.3 lb) | Approx. 22.2 kg (48.9 lb) |
| Battery capacity | 1,539 Wh | 1,512 Wh |
| External battery compatibility | Yes, via adapter (48 V) | No |
| Solar charging | Via ePropulsion solar panels | Up to 200 Wp via solar cable |
| USB-C outlet on battery | Yes | No |
| Display and app | Onboard display | Colour display, WiFi, Bluetooth, TorqView app |
| Control options | Tiller or remote | Tiller or remote |
| Price with battery (CAD) | $5,499 | $6,820 |
The battery packs land within 27 Wh of each other, which makes the rest of the sheet easier to read. The Spirit 2 puts out more continuous power, weighs less at the powerhead, recharges itself under sail and costs $1,321 less with the battery in the box. The Travel XP answers with Torqeedo's electronics – the built-in colour display and the TorqView app are genuinely useful on longer runs, showing remaining range in time and distance rather than a bare percentage.
Power Across the Rest of the Range
Not everyone needs a flagship. In the 1 kW class, the Spirit 1.0 Plus and Spirit 1.0 Evo face the Travel S. All three are 3 hp equivalents suited to dinghies, tenders and small sailboats. The Evo adds hydrogeneration and a remote option over the Plus. On the Torqeedo side, the Travel XS is the lightest entry point, and it undercuts every Spirit on price.
Below 1 kW the brands stop overlapping. ePropulsion has the eLite 500W with its built-in 378 Wh battery. Torqeedo covers the ultralight end with kayak-specific hardware rather than a transom motor. If you are unsure how much power your boat actually needs, our guide to choosing the right outboard walks through the sizing logic, so we will not repeat it here.
Batteries – Where the Philosophies Split
The battery question separates these brands more than anything bolted to the transom.
ePropulsion left the door open. Spirit motors run at 48 V, and an adapter cable lets them draw from external packs – dedicated batteries for ePropulsion motors or a compatible 48 V LiFePO4 bank you already own. A rental operation can keep one motor and rotate packs all day. A cottage owner can have a spare on the charger while the first one is out on the water. Once you own two batteries, range stops being the thing you plan a day around.
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Torqeedo went the other way with the Travel series and never looked back. The pack clicks straight into the motor, no cables to connect, with an LED that shows charge state even when the battery sits on a shelf. There is no third-party expansion, and Torqeedo would argue there does not need to be. The company has shipped lithium marine batteries since 2005, and its battery management system errs on the side of protecting the cells. What you get is a sealed unit engineered as one piece. What you accept is buying spare capacity from a single supplier at that supplier's price.
How far either setup takes you depends on throttle, hull and load more than on brand. We keep the numbers in one place – see electric outboard range and runtime for the honest math.
Charging and Solar
Both brands charge from a standard household outlet with the supplied charger, and both support solar. The Travel XP ships with a 180 W mains charger and accepts solar input up to 200 Wp through Torqeedo's solar cable. It can also charge from 12 V or 24 V on board. ePropulsion sells its own panels and fast chargers for the Spirit line, and the Spirit 2 adds a practical touch – the USB-C outlet on the battery will run a fish finder or keep a phone alive at anchor.
Plan on an overnight charge either way. If you return to shore power after each outing, charging stops being a topic within the first week of ownership.
Connectors and Build
An old sore point deserves a mention. Early Spirit 1.0 motors were known for fragile power connectors, and ePropulsion fixed it properly – the current stainless steel connector was co-developed with Amphenol and has held up well in our service bay. Torqeedo's connectors have been dependable throughout. On a motor you plug and unplug dozens of times a season, this is not a trivial line item, and today neither brand gives us reason for complaint.
Current Prices in Canada
Prices below are from our own store as of August 2026 and can shift with promotions and exchange rates. The product pages always show the live number.
| Model | Class | Price (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| ePropulsion eLite 500W | 500 W, integrated battery | From $1,699 |
| Torqeedo Travel XS | Ultralight portable | From $2,095 |
| Torqeedo Travel S | 1.1 kW / 3 hp equivalent | From $2,609 |
| ePropulsion Spirit 1.0 Plus | 1 kW / 3 hp equivalent, with battery | $4,250 |
| ePropulsion Spirit 1.0 Evo | 1 kW with hydrogeneration, with battery | $4,599 |
| ePropulsion Spirit 2 | 2 kW, with 1,539 Wh battery | $5,499 |
| Torqeedo Travel XP | 1.6 kW / 5 hp equivalent, with 1,512 Wh battery | $6,820 |
The Spirit 2 and Travel XP are also sold without the battery at $3,499 and from $3,624 respectively, which matters if you already own a compatible pack or are buying a spare-battery setup. On what these motors cost to run over the years, the short version is that fuel and maintenance savings are real – the full accounting lives in our cost of ownership comparison.
Which One Should You Buy
After rigging both lines for a few seasons, here is where we land.
- Sailboat owners – Spirit 2 or Spirit 1.0 Evo. Hydrogeneration recharges the pack while you sail, and Torqeedo's portable line has no answer to it.
- Heavier tenders and loaded dinghies – Spirit 2 for the power-per-dollar, Travel XP if the onboard display and TorqView telemetry matter to how you boat.
- Fleet, rental and cottage use – ePropulsion, because external 48 V battery support means one motor and as many packs as the operation needs.
- Lightest possible setup – Travel XS on the Torqeedo side, eLite 500W if half a kilowatt covers your water.
- Long-term brand comfort – Torqeedo. Twenty years of lithium marine drives counts for something, and the electronics remain the best in the class.
Neither choice is a mistake. ePropulsion gives you more motor for the dollar and lets you grow battery capacity on your own terms. Torqeedo builds the better electronics and has two extra decades of lithium behind it. In our showroom the sale usually turns on one thing that matters to that particular buyer. For one customer it is hydrogeneration on a sailboat. For the next it is the Travel XP display he could not put down.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ePropulsion better than Torqeedo?
Neither brand is better across the board. ePropulsion offers more continuous power for the money, hydrogeneration and external battery support. Torqeedo offers stronger onboard electronics, the TorqView app and the longest lithium marine track record in the industry. The right pick depends on your boat and how you use it.
What replaced the Torqeedo Travel 1103C?
Torqeedo discontinued the Travel 1103C and replaced the line with the Travel XS, Travel S and Travel XP. The Travel S is the closest successor to the 1103C at 1.1 kW, while the Travel XP steps up to 1,600 W with a 1,512 Wh battery.
Is the ePropulsion Spirit 2 replacing the Spirit 1.0 Plus?
Not directly. The Spirit 2 is a 2 kW motor that sits above the 1 kW Spirit 1.0 Plus and Spirit 1.0 Evo, which both remain in production. It is a step up in power and battery capacity rather than a one-for-one replacement.
Can ePropulsion Spirit motors run on third-party batteries?
Yes. Spirit motors run at 48 V and can draw from external packs through an adapter cable, including compatible 48 V LiFePO4 batteries. The Travel line does not offer this. Torqeedo batteries are integrated and proprietary, so adding spare capacity means buying additional Torqeedo packs.
Which costs less in Canada, Torqeedo or ePropulsion?
It depends on the class. Torqeedo's Travel XS and Travel S are the least expensive entry points, starting at $2,095 CAD. In the flagship class the ePropulsion Spirit 2 at $5,499 CAD with battery undercuts the Torqeedo Travel XP at $6,820 CAD with battery.
Ready to compare in person? Browse the full range of electric outboard motors, or go straight to the Torqeedo electric outboards and ePropulsion outboards collections. Both brands are on the floor at our Scarborough showroom, and we are happy to put a tiller in your hand before you decide.