The A-BAT was officially introduced as a hybrid truck concept during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Mich., in Dec. 2007, and, as you know, concepts don't always get past this phase. For some it’s the sign that an adventure is starting, for others it is the reassurance that all is well on board the boat. “Nothing spoils the joy of sailing – or a secluded anchorage – more than the noise and smell of diesel engines,” they explained.

Almost all its eight wheels feature its suspension, installed to a confined chassis made to shield critical elements. Well, in the first instance, it means system integration. Manoeuvrability is much better in confined marina spaces.”That’s because combustion engines only reach peak power (and maximum torque) over a small range of speeds. “It will likely be cheaper than a generator installation, and eliminates the issue of the through-hulls, the cooling circuits, the long running hours, the maintenance.”The system allows you to run all sorts of creature comforts on board that would normally require a generator: from hot water on-demand to coffee makers and freezers. For example, BMW has just announced its next generation i3 battery, used by Torqeedo’s Deep Blue system, will be able to hold 40kWh of power – an increase of 33% for the same size, weight and nearly the same cost.Torqeedo Cruise 2.0 FP Pod Drive is suitable for small yachts up to 4 tonnes – a folding prop can also be fittedThe other area of development is around the propeller. A good example of a true hybrid bay boat is the Sea Born FX25 Bay.

Nov 23, 2013 - The Toyota A-BAT is a hybrid concept truck that, at first glance, looks like a cross between the Chevy Avalanche and Honda Ridgeline.

“Typically, maximum boat speed will be somewhat lower (0.5kt-1.0kt) than with a comparable diesel engine, but at the same time the boat will maintain … Second, the torque characteristics of electric are much better than diesel.Mustelin says that Oceanvolt’s 10kW motor “easily outperforms” a 30hp diesel. 'Monstrous' Truck-Boat Hybrid Ferries Russians to Bridgeless Village. This means it will work with the yacht’s existing engine – no need to overspec – and it has already been successfully installed on a new Southerly 480, a Malo 46 and a similar-sized Hallberg-Rassy.They charter the boat out near Vancouver, for exploring Desolation Sound and the surrounding area where silent, clean propulsion is a selling point.

“A regenerating prop, which spins while sailing and recharges the batteries (sacrificing 0.2-0.4 of a knot, depending on the boat and conditions) makes it possible to be almost independent of the genset and use it only for backup.”Ipswich-based modern classic builders Spirit Yachts has started construction on its largest project to date, a 34m sloop, Spirit 111.…The electric propulsion pioneer Torqeedo won the largest marine equipment prize of the year today (15 November) – for the…This system has the advantage that the generator is only needed on longer passages, so the boat still manoeuvres silently in and out of ports and anchorages.And a well-designed, correctly sized generator is much more efficient at turning diesel into electricity than an engine not originally designed for the job. When you add to that the fact the electric system is almost service free, the total cost of ownership is turning in favour of electric.”So, you may not hear them approach, but expect to see more and more electric-powered boats on the water as the revolution continues.A key part of the viability of electric propulsion rests on the notion that a smaller motor can achieve the same work as a bigger diesel.

But Torqeedo’s own research shows that the consistently high torque of an electric motor is best utilised by props with variable pitch.And yet it is Oceanvolt that has addressed this issue specifically for electric motors with its Servo Prop system, which it claims to be 30% more efficient ahead, 100% better astern and 300% more efficient in regeneration mode.Oceanvolt says that this prop can pump around 500W into the batteries at just 5 knots – the average pace of a 30ft monohull. There are two elements to this. The Bootswerft Heinrich-built 13m Yamila uses an Oceanvolt electric motor rather than a diesel engine. Photo: Peter Minder Every sailor is familiar with the wet cough of the diesel engine, and the acrid smell of its exhaust. Torque is a measure of turning power – at the propeller in the case of a boat.A diesel engine develops optimum torque between 1,800-2,000rpm, while electric motors deliver it from 0 to around 2,000rpm. The world’s third largest boatbuilder, The system takes up less space than the standard diesel, is much quieter and vibration- and emissions-free. But we are trying to combine long-term vision with short-term mindset.”In the meantime, the prevalent technology is based on lithium-manganese-cobalt, and a process of steady development is making this 5-8% better each year. Some sailors opt for an in-line hybrid system, like those offered by Hybrid-Marine, which bolts onto the existing diesel.These are easier to retrofit, with many of the same characteristics as the full hybrid system, but there’s the disadvantage of still having an engine boxed away somewhere near the middle of the boat.Until now, most business has been done through retrofitting existing yachts. Please practice hand-washing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. It is a metallic Star Wars Yoda bookend for your Star Wars book collection.The New Skylight Digital Photo Frame, Great Gift Idea Staying in touch with loved ones is important, especially for those that are miles apart.