Oceanvolt SD8.6 electric saildrive motor Electric boats were popular around the turn of the 20th century. Interest in quiet and potentially renewable marine transportation has steadily increased since the late 20th century, as solar cells have givenmotorboats the infinite range of sailboats. Electric motors can and have also been used in sailboats instead of traditional diesel engines.[26] Submarines use batteries (charged by diesel or gasoline engines at the surface), nuclear power, fuel ce...