Keyboard Shortcuts
Likes
Search
Re: [Electric Boats] High end electric/diesel yacht
|
David Goldsmith
On Tue, Nov 23, 2010 at 5:05 PM, Eric <ewdysar@...> wrote:
Respectfully, the EPA methodology isn't as foolproof as a single number can explain. Electric cars, unless they are being charged from a known renewable source, such as wind, solar, biomass, or hydro, do have emissions associated with their use, but determining those emissions is a case-by-case situation starting from their charging outlet and ending up at the mine or the well where the fuel originates. I have no doubt that electric cars, when compared to conventional cars, use less energy to drive around, but I think its more from their owners attention to weight, driving habits, and design of the vehicle rather than something inherent in using grid power instead of point of use power. ?
No argument there. Boats are pleasure objects, they're all wonderful when they fulfill the desires of their owners, and I'd never tell someone they had a 'bad boat' as long as it made them happy. Electrics are a great way to power a whole lot of boats out there, but 50 foot planing cruisers isn't one of them, at least not yet. Personally, I'd rather have electrics over an engine any day as long as it met my needs, but that's personal, a lot of people just love big loud engines and more power to them (no pun intended), boats are for personal fun after all. ?
My discussion certainly is speculative, I haven't been on the boat and probably never will be (but would love a ride if anyone is offering!) maybe someone with some experience running large yachts like this one could weigh in on how they see the electrics being advantageous? For all I know slow speed maneuvering may very well be a big problem with large planning boats, and the engines idle being too loud early in the morning may be a big problem too, I'm sure someone with some experience could give some more examples. Advertising materials get away with an awful lot, legally anyone can pretty much say anything they like, whether that is a good thing or not is an entirely different discussion that has nothing to do with electric boats so thankfully we don't have to get into it, but personally (just me talking here), I think its a stretch to talk about zero emissions and about 'hybrid' because these terms imply something to consumers, and what it implies isn't what this boat does. I'd say the same thing about a whole lot of advertising out there, not trying to single these guys out. ?
I'm certainly willing to discount, ridicule, even mock the opinions of others if they're sufficiently stupid, it doesn't happen often, and it hasn't happened around here, but I reserve that right:) You make a good point that this is a pleasure boat, and I didn't mean to suggest that any of our boats are 'efficient' or anything like that, its all surplus when it goes into our toys and that's wonderful, from the silliest little lake schooner to the ugliest mega yacht, and certainly to my ancient sailboat, boats are all just fun things not to be taken too seriously. If they would have just described the boat and its systems then I'd probably be more interested in its drive than anything else, but when they go on about how its a planing hull & a displacement hull & has prop tunnels & and is super efficient because it can put around at 8 knots on the electrics, well, come on, I can't let that go:) ?
Sure, no problem with any and everyone buying anything they like. I would question whether there is anything here that's going to trickle down to the rest of us. I mean, they'll probably build what, ten of these total? The systems aren't completely specified but I would guess the components are all off-the-shelf items (at least as much as they can be in boats) rather than representing a break through in motors, controllers, batteries, or gearing. There won't be enough to bring down costs on the components, and the system isn't one that would scale down to the more pedestrian boats discussed around here. At this point in the technology, motors and controllers are mature technologies that are slowly developing but there isn't much more in the way of efficiency to get out of an electric motor. The next big tech needs to come in batteries and the next big technology will move not just boats but transportation, consumer items, and probably just about everything else forward will be energy storage, so I wouldn't think this particular product is going to make that happen either. Can we talk about how great that new Hunter 27e is? I drive by the plant all the time, if the group would like to put together some questions I'm sure I could make an appointment to go and talk to the designers and see some being built (if they're in production yet.) David ?
|