Why aren't we seeing much development in electric outboard motors?

Don't kill the messenger! And don't get me wrong, I'm old-school! I love gas-operated, combustion outboard motors, I always have! I even collect and rebuild some of the old ones!  But I can't help but ask how we're seeing an explosion in electric, battery-powered tools everywhere, except for internal combustion-powered outboard motors!  The reasons are many.  The elephant in the room, of course, is manufacturers of internal combustion engines, who can't be happy campers!  But it seems inevitable given the environmental, conservation, and eventual long-term economic savings from free solar-powered energy versus the economic and environmental cost of fossil burning, polluting the air, water, and any number of species, above and below, including 'US', by burning gasoline and oil.  The use of portable, rechargeable, battery-powered tools, charging time, thrust, and life, are constantly getting better, faster, stronger, longer, and cheaper!   So why no R&D or talk about the gasoline-powered outboard motor industry?  OK, there are a few electric outboards out there, but little has changed with them, and I can't find much at all in new developments in the existing gas-powered manufacturers either!  Both technologies are very expensive, but the big difference is, solar-powered battery technology for the outboard use market is in its infancy.  (Not even the leading electric trolling motor companies are doing much, if anything in developing outboard electric-powered motors, or they're just not saying!?)  Can't boat Mfg develop materials to cover the exposed surfaces of a boat with durable material to collect solar energy even on cloudy days to keep batteries, onboard back-ups, and lightweight portable power-packs easily available and charged like your power drill, lawnmower, and leaf-blower? All of these can be recharged by plugging into any A/C power source now, a power hookup on your pier, or even an outside-use, GFI extension cord.  No one likes to see the end of a technology that has served so well!  It's that change you hate to love/hate and embrace, but it's the price we pay for progress, or so I've been told!  BTW, has anyone else ever wondered if you could rig your battery-powered, electric leaf-blower with gears, a shaft, and a propeller?  I have no doubt they are working on it now.  I just wanted to see what fellow sports-people thought.  What do you think? 

     

Vision Marine is a publicly traded company since 2020 focused on electric boat propulsion, currently have a 180hp motor.

Tom Brady as well is using his play money to put together a team for racing electric  boats. 

Progress is being made.

Price is an issue???  How many of you already have a $2000+ minnkota with $1000+ in batteries to run it,  people will pay anything these days.  Just increase the monthly payment, the new American way.  Technology will eventually get there.

The problem with BATTERIES IS NO MATTER WHAT KIND THEY HAVE TO BE RECHARGED!NO ELECTRICITY!NO BATTERY! HI POWER YES BUT SHORT BATTERY LIFE! CLEAN ENEGRY A PIPE DREAM ! NOT TOO MANY HYDROELECTRIC DAMS INTHE MIDWEST! BRAIN DEAD PEOPLE BELIEVE ANYTHING! THE LEFT SELLS ?

As many others have mentioned, the technology isn't there, yet, to compete with gas motors in weight, price, or range. Will we get there someday? Maybe. 

As far as it being more "environmentally friendly" HA! Just because you don't see the smoke coming off of it doesn't mean its polluting any less. Ever seen a lithium mine? What do you think digs up the materials that are used to make batteries? Diesel powered everything. Then it has to be manufactured, using electricity made from burning coal, and oil based coolants and lubrication throughout the manufacturing process. Electric vehicles pollute just as much as gas, they just pollute Africa and China where the mines and manufacturing takes place so all the uppity yuppies in Madison that don't realize things dont grow on trees can feel better about themselves because they don't see it. 

Windmills, for example, use more energy in the manufacturing process than they produce in their lifetime, but because the blue hairs don't see them being made, they think they are environmentally friendly. Source: I've built them.

I don't don't believe electric outboards will ever amount to more than a novelty or unit that can be used on small bodies of water.
Comparing available energy
one gallon of gas can produce 33.7 KWH of energy per the EPA
A fully charged Optima AGM rated at 66 AH can produce 7.32 KWH of energy
A good day in Canada I can burn 10 gallons of gas. The equivalent travel would require 46 Optima batteries provided they can discharge to 100% 

Off topic some, but saw a battery powered electric dragster clean up racing regular ones on TV the other night. It seemed to have unlimited power for the few seconds it ran.

50 horse electric motor

Once you add the six batteries at 100 lb each you now are up to over 600 lb
Trim and tilt
Charging system charging cables
Throttle controls
Gauge
Comes to just a little over ,$24,000

Hooking up a battery drill to an ice auger blade used to be thought of as eccentric. Change is always harder for some people than others. Technology marches on. Batteries have been improving and lithium is a game changer for sure. I'm with H. Donk on this one. Muskie Kid must have meant hooking up a electric grass trimmer with a propeller attached which is funny.

E motors are the next big thing.
Grossly over priced right now,but the power is unreal
.300 hp motor actually 450hp..wow..I can't wait..Donk!