Hi Liam and team
Great question and wonderful to see you’re considering a contextualised approach to your ideas.
Some questions and thoughts to support your idea
– If electric outboard motors are commercially available and present a number of benefits to the environment, how come they’re not more common in coastal areas of the Australian mainland? Would Islanders ask the same question?
– What kind of charging infrastructure would be needed to support this?
– Saibai Islanders are a sea faring people, so they travel often and to distant islands. What’s the average range on an electric system?
– If Islanders have access to diesel powered small boats now, is imposing electric onboard motors something they’d be open to accepting? “We have this green solution that we think is a good idea, but you’ll have to pay the upfront cost of installing a new engine and batteries”
– Perhaps you could assume that Government could help subsidise some of the costs?
– What’s the cost/benefit/return on investment that could support your idea?
– How will upskilling and creating pathways for local/traditional knowledge be achieved so that Islanders can maintain, operate and sustain such systems?
– Electric systems need charging, but electricity comes in the form of diesel generators on the island. Could your idea be supported by solar platforms?
You’re on the right path, and certainly asking the right questions when it comes to cross-cultural considerations.
Hope this helps
Tom Nguyen.
Liam Murray-Walker
Tom Nguyen