[michb]

Part and parcel of the responsibility of these new systems is safety. The user must never come into contact with these voltages. The key is to build it right in the first place and never need to utilize the built-in safety protocols. The world of standards is catching up with the technology. The American Boat & Yacht Council published a document titled “TE-30 Electrical Propulsion Systems” in 2009 and the ISO and IEC international standards groups are working on a document as you read this. When researching one of these innovative products, ask, “To what standard was this product designed and built?” Some builders are ahead of the marine standards curve and building to an electric train/light-rail specification, others pay close attention to the automotive market.

[td]

Charging can be accomplished in many ways, but the important thing is battery management. Parallel systems can be fitted with smaller banks because the combustion motor can drive the boat as necessary, while the serial method needs enough juice to get you the entire distance. In order to optimize the performance and lifespan of these large DC power plants, the charge method is of utmost importance. The charging characteristics are custom programmed for the banks they’re serving. High-end charge controllers have the ability to take almost any source of energy (shorepower, alternator, solar, or wind) and turn it into the correct output for the battery bank. more

[macje6645]

By design, these systems connect many components that need to work together, which generates a wealth of information. Some gear-head boaters, like yours truly, would like as much information as possible; some just want the silence. Make sure the option you choose has the ability to hide or display the information you want. [links]

[tehlaser]

The common elements with all these installations are large, expensive battery banks. In many cases these are not the 12-, 24-, or even 48-volt systems we’re used to. While several manufacturers are designing to 48 volts, others are using 120, 250, and even 400 volts or more. These are not systems you’d want anyone other than a trained technician to diagnose and repair.

[vanolinda86]

The hybrid boat market is gaining traction. At the Marine Equipment and Trade Show (METS) this year, more and more companies were displaying systems, system components, and battery technologies that were suited to the propulsion market. The decision to invest in a hybrid boat must take into account your boating preferences as well as the technical advantages and maintenance issues. The market is substantially supplying and backing this exciting technology. The more time passes, the more players will enter the arena, the more the prices will come down, and the more choices you’ll have.

[Golobulus]

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[leonas7n3417]

Representatives from Elco and Beneteau recently gathered to make the prototype model available for testing and to ask for feedback from the boating press. Both companies made it clear that adding an electric drive system did not require major changes to the boat and that every effort would be made to retain its proven seagoing performance. Indeed, the ST34 Hybrid utilizes the same 425 hp Cummins diesel, transmission, shaft and prop as the standard model. In line with the shaft, a clutch-driven Elco EP-2000 electric motor delivering the equivalent of 20 hp is installed. here

[assdewqq]

Leaving the dock under electric power can be a real hoot, as bystanders invariably stare and wonder why they don’t hear the throaty rumble of a combustion engine. Even being at the helm is a bit disconcerting at first, as we are so conditioned to the cause and effect of engine noise and movement. Thanks to the Swift Trawler’s handy bow and stern thrusters we were soon out of our tight slip and on our way for a very quiet run in Annapolis Harbor. Harbor cruises, in fact, are where hybrid boats shine, as the speed limits are usually in line with the hybrid’s capability.

[mstate2]

Equally important, her helm ergonomics and interior space design are cruiser-friendly, especially for a couple—even with kids or occasional guests. Beneteau proved this point with its “Greatest Loop” promotion two years ago, handing one of its ST34s to marine journalists and photographers who successfully completed the 5,000-mile Great Loop in four months. Overall, the boat made a positive impression with these highly opinionated critics.

[derka]

Under E-power, theST34 is eerily quiet. [links]

[WatchIn]

In the summer of 2014 the company was nominated for Innovation of the Year at the Electric and Hybrid Marine World Expo in Amsterdam for its saildrive coupling, connecting its electric motors to Yanmar saildrives. And seeing a demand for higher power applications, it recently introduced a new EP-10000 electric motor with power comparable to a 100 hp diesel engine. here

[Chuck]

A single-cylinder diesel engine optimized to drive a generator at peak fuel efficiency charges the battery bank on this serial installation more

[toyotalizu]

The prime mover can be a combustion engine or an electric motor. Both drive the same prop shaft(s). Generally the installation will look like a traditional combustion engine but include an electric motor component between the engine and transmission. The key to this technology is the clutch system. You may be able to shift on the fly, seamlessly changing from combustion to electric with the touch of a button; though some require the engine to come to a complete stop before switching to electric. Charging batteries is carried out by the engine through advanced controllers and in some installations is supplemented by large solar panels.

[dmytrij]

Building on the advantages of the perfect boating day is the serial option, which has only an electric motor driving the prop shaft — such as Hunter's e36 sailboat. A conventional generator exists purely to charge the battery bank for the electric propulsion. Solar or wind generation can be added. here

[osjak]

This Elco electric motor is designed to replace the diesel auxiliary in 30- 40- foot sailboats. It is an option in the Hunter 36.

[geekmug]

Torqeedo, known for their electric outboards, is also taking steps into the inboard/hybrid segment with the Deep Blue Hybrid catamaran concept. One of their unique ideas is to add charging via a reverse propeller. By allowing the saildrive prop to rotate 180 degrees, it could be used as a hydro generator when the boat is under sail. This is an interesting concept, for sure, but after seeing the issues with hydro generators during the last Vendee Globe race—when several different boats encountered hydro generator problems that left them with partial or no power generation—I’d be worried about the potential risk of losing primary propulsion. [links]

[vfdsaq]

New supercapacitor technology, for example, may bypass lithium batteries. Capacitors can hold an electrical charge, and although they aren’t batteries per se, supercapacitors are crossing the boundary into the battery’s space. They’re similar to lithium in terms of being able to take the abuse of many recharging cycles, but have 10 to 100 times the power density.

[strania]

If you go with a purpose-built hybrid, such as the Greenline 33, lithium batteries may also come into play. But this builder has taken a different approach, with a parallel engine configuration. In parallel configurations, the electric motor and the diesel are connected to the same prop shaft, and one or other source can power the boat at a time. [links]

[Mionione]

Replacing your current engine with a hybrid means adding an electric motor for primary propulsion, along with a companion diesel that can serve as a generator to charge the batteries, either for house use or to extend the boat’s range. With an appropriately sized generator, you can charge batteries and run propulsion at same time (assuming they aren’t overtaxed with house loads). Generators can also be set to auto-start in a low battery situation. Including the generator does mean additional complexity, space for a fuel tank, cooling, through hulls and rigging, but in the long run it makes a ton of sense.

[gim]

The Elco electric hybrid engine comes with a companion generator for charging away from the dock and extended range. Image courtesy of Elco Motor Yacht. here

[hugolp]

A Hunter e36 underway on electric power. Image courtesy of Marlow Hunter. more