The Standard Electrical Dictionary

1. Boat, Electric

   A boat propelled by electricity. The electricity drives a motor which actuates a screw propeller. The current is generally supplied by a storage battery. When used on rivers charging stations are established at proper places. When the boat is used as a tender or launch for a steam ship, such as a war-vessel, the battery is charged by a plant on board the ship. From their noiselessness electric boats are peculiarly available for nocturnal torpedo operations, and the universal equipment of modern war-ships with electric lightning and power plants makes their use possible at all points. This type is often termed an electric launch, and most or all electric boats fall under this category.