The Washington College Electric Boat Team has etched their names into the history books by breaking the world record for the longest distance traveled on a single battery charge by an electric boat without using solar. In a feat of student ingenuity and a testament to the potential of environmentally conscious boating, the team successfully set the new record over the Labor Day weekend, beating the record at 2:30 a.m. on Sept. 1. By the time they ran out of battery six hours later, they had gone nearly 24 miles more than the current Guinness World Record, which was set in 2001 by the Thames Electric Launch Company in England. 

After a grueling but determined 36 hours of navigating the Chester River that began Friday afternoon, they surpassed the previous record of 220.4km (~ 136.95 miles) under cover of darkness early Sunday morning. But the crew wasn’t done yet. They continued their journey for another six hours, ultimately setting the new record at a staggering 258.867km (~160.86 miles)!   

“This accomplishment is a true testament to the dedication and hard work of our students and faculty,” said Brian Palmer, director of the IDEAWORKS Innovation Center and electric boat team advisor. “Our goal was to demonstrate that for many people’s boating needs, electric propulsion is a viable option. With emissions standards for boats so much lower than those set for cars, we want to help people realize that recreational and commercial boaters have a greater impact on the environment than they may realize.”  

No stranger to glory on the water, the team took first place in the manned category at the Electric Boat Competition sponsored by the U.S. Navy and the American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE) this spring. The boat was built by students under Palmer’s direction, starting last academic year. A life-long sailor, Palmer hopes that being on the team provides students with experiences that will propel them to be leaders in the ever-evolving world of EV propulsion post-graduation. 

With this record attempt, the team wanted to showcase the need for, and ease of reaching, lower emissions and fuel use on waterways and set a new bar for electric boat technology. By demonstrating the impressive range and efficiency of electric boats, the Washington College team is leading the way towards a cleaner and more sustainable future. 

“We all come to it with a different perspective,” said team member Tiyaba Jamil ’27. “We all have a passion for it, but for different reasons. That’s what really helps us come together as a team. We’re all just so genuinely interested in what we do.”