The ePropulsion Spirit 1.0 Plus is the electric outboard that has done more than any other to legitimize the dinghy-and-tender segment. A 1 kW peak motor (3 hp gas equivalent) with an integrated 1.276 kWh lithium battery in the tiller handle, total weight 41 pounds, and a price under $2,500 with battery included. The integrated-battery design is the segment-defining decision: there is no separate battery to buy, no cables to manage, no waterproofing concerns. The whole motor lifts out of the boat as one piece, charges via the included 110V wall plug, and runs back into service in 8 hours. Runtime at half-throttle is roughly 75 minutes, top speed on a 10-foot inflatable dinghy is 4–5 knots. We used a Spirit 1.0 Plus as the primary tender motor for a 35-foot sailboat across a full cruising season, never a moment of trouble, and the 41-pound total weight made it the only outboard the boat captain could lift solo.

For the full scoreboard, what works versus what does not, year-and-trim guidance, and pricing as of April 2026, see our roundup Best Electric Outboard Motors in 2026.

What works

  • Integrated battery in tiller, no separate cables or waterproofing concerns
  • 41 pounds total, lift the whole motor as one piece for storage and theft prevention
  • Under $2,500 with battery, segment-best value at this hp tier
  • IP67 motor housing handles dinghy-saltwater conditions without compromise
  • External battery upgrade (E40, E80) extends range without replacing the motor

What does not

  • Integrated battery means battery replacement requires sending the unit to service
  • No GPS range estimator at this tier, runtime estimate is throttle-based only
  • Top speed of 4–5 knots is below the 6-knot displacement threshold of larger dinghies

Pricing, April 2026

  • New: $2,200–2,600 with battery (2026 MSRP)
  • Used: $1,400–1,900 (2022–2024 examples)

Long-form review

The full ePropulsion Spirit 1.0 Plus long-form review republishes in July 2026 with on-the-water testing notes, a 6-dimension scorecard, fuel-burn or charge-time numbers, and the trim and year we would buy. Until then, the roundup link above is the decision-grade read.