What is the name of your solution?
Electric Boats for Amazon Rainforest
Provide a one-line summary of your solution.
To the Amazon Rainforest Guards, Solalis brings electric boats and charging infrastructure - effective technology tools to mitigate global climate.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Manaus, Amazonas, BrazyliaIn what country is your solution team headquartered?
What type of organization is your solution team?
For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
Global warming by 1,5°C means 4°C higher temperatures for the Amazon Rainforest people's. Solalis enterprise brings to Amazon communities a technology solution to adapt to a warmer climate and to create a zero-carbon world of prosperity.
Amazon Rainforest is essential for all life on Earth and here instead of roads are rivers - 35 thousand km of waterways and around 30% of the 48 million population is accessible only by water. In 2024 around 1.6 billion liters of diesel will be used to supply electricity in the Amazon Riverside communities, that today are spending half of the income on fossil fuel to run boats and for poor quality energy at home that comes from diesel generators.
Great distances in the Amazon, together with high fuel cost are preventing sustainable development. Riverside communities are still using conventional boats: that run on expensive fossil fuel, motors are inefficient, have complex design and demand lots of maintenance, pollute the environment, make noise and cause accidents.
With electric boats we address main problems of many communities like: lack of energy, limited access to health care, education, air and water pollution, extractivism production’s waste, underdeveloped value chains, low connectivity and poor digitalization, and as a result very low Human Development Index.
Quick and agile introduction of electric solar boats and charging infrastructure is indirectly targeting the main problem - climate change, because it will improve the quality of living of the forest guards - boosting bioeconomy and strengthening communities of protectors of the Earth's largest rainforest and of the most biodiverse place.
What is your solution?
Solalis builds electric boats and charging infrastructure and converts conventional vessels into electric ones. Boats are equipped with electric motors, batteries and optionally with photovoltaic panels. The Solalis boats are much more economical, maintenance free, silent, safe and do not emit polluting gasses and they can also generate and store energy.
Our goal is to build an automated line for mass production of affordable electric boats with hulls made of recycled materials and bioplastic.
We now commercialize electric propulsion to small boat's owners - the first kind are outboards with power ranges: 6kW-20kW and second is long tail electric propulsion system developed in house in partnership with the technology institute INDT with power ranges: 5kW-15kW. This kind of propulsion is most commonly used today by the Amazon Rainforest communities.
For charging electric vessels, the startup develops solar and wind powered floating centers. They will be placed in strategic locations for water traffic on Amazon lakes and rivers and equipped with photovoltaic panels and distributing custom designed modular swappable batteries to attend local communities energy needs for both electric vessels and home appliances.
Electrifying mobility is a trend run by electric vehicles and followed by the boating industry. Solalis brings disruptive innovation to the Amazon region, where it is needed the most and where it can have the greatest positive social and environmental impact. As a pioneer, startup commercialize technology that will in the most effective way contribute to the planet's climate stabilization.
Our solution will accelerate the transition from diesel to renewables in the Amazon region and effectively contribute to climate stabilization. By harnessing the power of electricity, our boats help to reduce pollution, protect the environment, and support the well-being of riverside communities and ecosystems.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
To save Earth's climate we need to save the Amazon Rainforest, and for this we target with our solution at first the “Forest Guards” traditional riverside communists - indigenous, quilombola, extrativists and communities in need.
Electric boats have the potential to positively impact these communities by promoting environmental sustainability, improving health and safety, reducing operating costs, increasing access to services, healthcare, education, economic opportunities and helping to preserve rich cultural heritage.
Being a pioneer company in the water mobility in Brazil and to bring other revenue sources, Solalis also attends other customers. We bring demand from private owners, companies and from the government. Our potential customers today are all that are using small boats: for passenger and goods transport - riverside communities, extrativists, fishermans, service, military, school boats, houseboats owners and for public transportation.
Since 2021 we have developed wast network of contacts with potential customers including riverside communities, private companies (river resorts, restaurants, shipyards, fishing stories), biggest in Northern Brazil marketplaces (Bemol and Info Store), institutions that support indigenous and traditional communities and with government representatives that often supply municipalities with equipment and technology.
Savings generated by the e-boat owners are the main cause of social impact. Electric boats offer up to 90% of the economy in comparison to what is available today on the market - conventional diesel powered boats. Return on investment comes in between (2-3 years). In many cases one electric boat can even triple the income of one family.
Lowering the cost of transport will improve connectivity, enhance social inclusion and it will help to match the gap between city and rural populations, improving the quality of living for both, helping with: more children at school and more communities online via satellites, telemedicine development and better health with less accidents and lower level for infant mortality, increase the quality of food, decrease its waste and lower the prices for final consumers and provide more varied diet. This impact will be measured by the HDI and SDG indicators in communities that received our technology. From the use of electric boats it will surge many green jobs, for example in tourism, helping to shift whole population from predatory activities to actually preserving the environment.
Electric boats directly reduce GHG emissions. Our calculation points out that emission of 2.6kg CO2 is avoided for every liter of diesel oil saved. Approximately 4t of CO² is saved in one month of operations by one small boat (calculation based on 9 hours working day). Our solutions keep the air and water clean and there is no sound pollution which is very positive for the wildlife. Number of wild animals in specific area is another indicator of positive impact, where researchers can work using silent and clean electric boats.
How are you and your team well-positioned to deliver this solution?
Our solution since the beginning, is being designed to attend to specific need - to improve the way of water transport in the world where instead of highways are waterways.
We are a passionate and motivated team having as purpose electrification of the Amazon Rainforest. This demands specialists from different areas working together. We match our skills with key partners to deliver results to the end customers that are for lifetime and become a partner and actively participate in co-creation and improvement of the product, by giving it's feedback. Our stuff is continuously getting trained and upskilled.
We are a member of the working group implementing electric boats in the Amazon. To the group belong representatives of WWF Brasil, CEO of ABGD (Brazilian Agency for Energy Distribution), local government (Development Company of the State of Amazonas – CIAMA), engineers among others. The purpose of group is to implement electric boats where they are mostly needed.
Startup's leader has been visiting and co-living with traditional Amazon communities since 2016, learning their way of living, customs and also noting daily difficulties and challenges. For the last three years he has been living on the river bank observing and experiencing life according to the cycles of nature.
Another team member Andre Malagueta, for 30 years has been working in a shipyard on small boats production in Manaus city and has deep local market knowledge.
Samuel Pond is a young and talented naval engineer with experience on getting boats license and with huls design.
We have a network of advisors and mentors from different areas, guiding us during the enterprise development process, sharing with us technical expertise and local experience.
I believe that success depends on talent and talent comes with hard work and motivation based on a clear purpose. All this we have in Solalis. We will make what is needed according to our possibilities to make the world a better place for all.
In any strategic planning we look for examples that are already working in electromobility in other places in the world and especially great references for us are Tesla and SpaceX. We are looking to adopt these companies management model and product development strategies. We look to implement agile methodology, build factories like a product to allow big scale and automated production.
We are making consultations and tests with community members to gather their insights and preferences regarding boat design, features, and usability.
We constantly look for ways to include the local population in the decision-making process and not only as a beneficiary receiver of technology but also as co-creator and developer - to foster a sense of ownership and pride in the final product.
Ultimately, our approach is not just about delivering electric boats but about empowering the riverside communities of the Amazon Rainforest to thrive sustainably while preserving their cultural heritage and natural environment. Through collaboration, respect, and mutual understanding, we believe that our team can make a meaningful and lasting impact in this unique and precious ecosystem.
Which dimension of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?
Adapt cities to more extreme weather, including through climate-smart buildings, incorporating climate risk in infrastructure planning, and restoring regional ecosystems.Which of the UN Sustainable Development Goals does your solution address?
What is your solution’s stage of development?
PilotWhy are you applying to Solve?
Climate change is the top issue for human survival on the planet. As an effective solution I founded a company that has the purpose to solve river mobility problems and by popularizing electric boats, strengthen the Forest Guards communities and give impulse to bioeconomy while preserving the forest with its infinite richness.
Applying to Solve I am looking for access to additional funding, and to a 9 month program of personalized support from Solve staff and Solve’s cross-sector community, including coaching sessions, workshops, virtual events, etc. I would like to travel to New York and to Boston and to learn new business culture and by joining the community of like minded people together to accelerate solutions to mitigate effects of climate change and to help to build climate resilience.
With the community I'd like to share the vision of the Third Millennium development model promoting living in harmony with the environment and using technology to boost the bioeconomy and to protect nature with its socio- biodiversity.
In which of the following areas do you most need partners or support?
Who is the Team Lead for your solution?
Zbigniew Kozak
What makes your solution innovative?
Electric boats and charging infrastructure will totally disrupt the way river transport functions in the Amazon region. Electrifying mobility is a trend run by electric vehicles and followed by the boating industry. Solalis being pioneer brings disruptive innovation to the Amazon where it is needed the most and where it can have the greatest positive social and environmental impact, in a very effective way contributing to the planet's climate stabilization.
Solalis is a pioneer company in electric boating and all of competitors are working with conventional boats that run on fossil fuels, are expensive and pollute the environment. These boats are noisy, require a lot of maintenance and break down often! They are unsafe, unreliable and it's hard to get spare parts. There is a problem with accessing the raw material for building hulls.
The Solalis boat is much more economical, maintenance free, silent, safe, does not emit polluting gasses and it can generate and store energy. Our boat's hulls will be from bio-materials and recycled plastic. Potential competition with similar product, can be already existing on the market electric motors made for fishing, but they have very low power and batteries have limited capacity attending only one niche.
Describe in simple terms how and why you expect your solution to have an impact on the problem.
By purchasing an electric boat, its owner will immediately lower the cost of transport and it will improve connectivity, enhance social inclusion and it will help to match the gap between city and rural populations, improving the quality of living for both.
As a result, it will help with: more children at school and more communities online via satellites, telemedicine development and better health with less accidents and lower levels for infant mortality, increase the quality of food, decrease its waste and lower the prices for final consumers and provide a more varied diet.
In the long term and on a bigger scale electrification of waterways will help protect the most biodiverse place on the planet and stabilize the global climate.
What are your impact goals for your solution and how are you measuring your progress towards them?
Our main impact goal is to improve the economy of electric boats owners. It will influence other impact indicators: rise of income, resulting in better socioeconomic conditions of riverside communities, more green jobs, cleaner air and water.
This impact will be measured by the HDI and SDG indicators in communities that received our technology.
Electric boats directly reduce GHG emissions. Our calculation points out that 2.6kg CO2 is avoided for every liter of diesel oil saved. Approximately 4t of CO² is saved in one month of operations by one small boat (calculation based on 9 hours working day).
Our solutions keep the air and water clean and there is no sound pollution which is very positive for the wildlife. Number of wild animals is another indicator of positive impact, where also researchers can work on silent and clean electric vessels.
Describe the core technology that powers your solution.
Solalis builds electric boats and charging infrastructure, also converts conventional vessels into electric ones. Boats are equipped with electric motors, batteries and optionally with photovoltaic panels.
The Solalis boats are much more economical, maintenance free, silent, safe and do not emit polluting gasses and they can also generate and store energy.
Startup develops floating centers for charging electric vessels and modular batteries with generation of energy from a clean source (solar and wind).
Our goal is to build an automated line for mass production of affordable electric boats with hulls made of bioplastic and recycled plastic.
Which of the following categories best describes your solution?
A new application of an existing technology
Please select the technologies currently used in your solution:
If your solution has a website or an app, provide the links here:
https://solalis.com.br/english
In which countries do you currently operate?
Which, if any, additional countries will you be operating in within the next year?
How many people work on your solution team?
One full time coordinator
Part time:
Operation manager
Coordinator from Emerge company that is helping build long tail electric propulsion for riverside communities in the Amazon Rainforest
INDT institute team: 4 engineers
Nautical engineer from Amazonas State University
One German electric motors producer.
Two companies developing Lithium Ion batteries.
How long have you been working on your solution?
I have been working directly on the solution since March 2021. Before I was already working with boats, living on boats, organizing events for 300 people on boats, and over decade kitesurfing. I had experience living in the Amazon Rainforest with traditional communities, traveling for hours and sometimes for few days on boats.
On the solution I collaborate with professionals with decades of experience in specific fields.
Tell us about how you ensure that your team is diverse, minimizes barriers to opportunity for staff, and provides a welcoming and inclusive environment for all team members.
Is welcome to join the Solalis team anyone who can get us closer to the goal of electrifying hydroways. Welcoming and inclusive environment for all team members is part of the company culture.
What is your business model?
Revenue mainly comes from sale of propulsion systems for conversion of conventional combustion engine boats into electric. We have two lines of products: one attends needs and it's affordable for riverside communities and another one attends users of small boats both for work and for leisure. We have already established a network of suppliers, distributors and necessary partners.
With the development of the charging points network, we will also rent them as well as electric motors with batteries.
Most of the profit will be reinvested in company development and research.
We are the only electric boats company in the Amazon region and in Brazil and we reach customers mostly by word of the month as well as through social media and associations, organizations and government representatives.
Amazon Rainforest is the world where it is much easier and more efficient and faster to move around using boats. That's why a solution that is sustainable and more economic is not only welcome but needed and necessary if we consider the tendency for electrification of transport.
Do you primarily provide products or services directly to individuals, to other organizations, or to the government?
Organizations (B2B)What is your plan for becoming financially sustainable, and what evidence can you provide that this plan has been successful so far?
By now we have received non refundable grants for business and product development in total over $ 76k.
Solalis main revenue source today is sale of new electric solar boats and electric propulsion systems for conversion of conventional boats. At the moment we are importing ready to run electric outboards and distribute them with custom designed batteries. We also import flexible solar panels and install them together with a propulsion systems on locally made boat's hulls.
Another revenue comes from sale and rent of modular - swappable batteries and charging stations. We are designing a leasing model with a local financing institution.
Electric boats can be used commercially, for research, leisure, water sport activities and tourism. Our beachhead market is passenger transport companies, who work with boats daily and have conditions for financing. This is the main source of revenue for the company. In parallel and in partnership with INDT, one of the biggest technology institutes in Brazil, we develop a solution for riverside communities - a long tail electric propulsion to get patented and mass produce as an affordable solution adopted to local conditions.
We attend demand from private owners, companies and the government. Since 2021 we have developed wast network of contacts with potential customers including private companies (river resorts, restaurants, shipyards, fishing stories), biggest in Northern Brazil marketplaces (Bemol, Info Store), institutions that support indigenous and traditional communities and with government representatives that often supply municipalities with equipment and technology. Without any marketing we already have customers approaching our startup, also from other states and neighbor countries.
Plan is to:
Raise the seed stage investment for implementation of industrial project to be entitled for the Manaus Free Trade Zone (ZFM) incentives.
Get patent for our solution and develop an automated production line
Develop factories as a product and expand activities to other Brazilian states and other countries.
Solution Team
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Mr Zbigniew Kozak Coordinator, Amazon Guard
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Our Organization
Solalis Electric Boats