Electric Propulsion System for Sailing Yachts

ZF is currently testing its electric propulsion system concept under real-life conditions. An innovation vessel equipped with the system has been cruising Lake Garda since September 2019. The prototype comes with a 60 kWh lithium-ion battery and achieves an average sustained speed of 7 knots (13 km/h) with a range of around 30 nautical miles (55.5 km). The battery pack is positioned at the stern and is provided with a cooling system for best performance.
For this new electric propulsion system, ZF uses an electric motor with a maximum output of 125 kW instead of the usual diesel unit. The electric motor connects to the ZF Steerable Pod Propulsion system (SPP) where maneuverability is further improved thanks to smooth control of the electric motor with no clutches. More about our technologies for sailing boats and yachts: www.zf.com/pro...
#SPP #emobility #sailing #electrification #marine #drive #application #sea #ocean #maritime #vessel #boat #propulsion #ZF #industrial #technology #industrialtechnology

[@pegasusnglowe7713]

You should have silling Uma too be one off the next ones for you to show how it ZF works because they are very good at sailling with Electric power

[@Sabre3861]

Currently waiting for my 2021 Allures 40.5 to leave the factory. The boat is equipped with a Hybrid Diesel Electric Propulsion system, which essentially is a diesel generator added to charges the batteries once the electric only range is depleted. At anchor, your solar panels can charge the batteries, but several cloudy days in a row with no wind do you a little good in a long passage. The system is similar to now discontinued Chevy Volt Hybrid engine with 75 miles of electric only range at 1/2 speed.

[@Co2Fe3]

Interesting. However I think that the project was a fitting of an electrical motors and batteries in a classic sailboat. I would sugget to try a complete redesign of the boat appliances. I feel that having an elecrtical motor and batteris, can improve way more the boat spaces and navigation in general

[@zfgroup]

As you properly stated, the purpose of this vessel was to convert a standard sailing vessel from conventional combustion engine propulsion to a full electric and full maneuverable propulsion. The vessel was already assembled and equipped with traditional internal components, furniture and cabins layout. We decided to not modify current cabins layout and preferred to verify feasibility to install new electric propulsion components inside the “traditional” spaces usually adopted for the conventional combustion engine propulsion. As you properly stated, in the future electric propulsion will offer new opportunities to review cabins layout and optimize system components positioning to boatbuilders and designers.

[@bradmcclure4945]

operative word prototype let me know when it is available to the retail market

[@kaptnk51]

could be a great option for diesel motor replacement if the price is right. No regen spec or variable pitch prop. No info found on this in 2022?? why not

[@zfgroup]

We continue to work on the electrification of marine propulsion systems. After the proof of concept (as you can see in the video), we partnered with Torqeedo to offer an integrated solution. The ongoing partnership is very successful, as shown by the results achieved by 2021. Watch the video about our collaboration on the electric saildrive: bit.ly/34DJIYw or read more: bit.ly/34DR4LA

[@carloko08]

Why connect to the electrical network to charge the batteries? where is the wind power generation mill? where are the photovoltaic cells? where are the propellers underwater to generate electricity? I think it is very good to electrify all kinds of vehicles, but it is not necessary to connect to the electrical network, and I hope that the system is cheap because if it is not like that, it can always be done with fewer resources and easier

[@joaopaulo393]

Amazing! Did you guys plan to have a Serial Hybrid one? Same Bat but with a generator "just in case"

[@gerritscharke4109]

What es cost of material and installation cost this system please?

[@bradmcclure4945]

also adapt it to a trimaran please

[@kitgerhart8749]

Can you charge the battery, using the motor as a generator, once you put the sails up?

[@zfgroup]

The prototype is currently not equipped with a regeneration function. This functionality is planned for the series production system.

[@Rockingoodman]

@@zfgroup Then why are you claiming to have a product at all?

[@Rockingoodman]

@@zfgroup Then why are you claiming to have a product ready for market. Useless without regen.

[@SIC-SEMPER-TYRANNIS]

I'd be more than happy to help with the system integration and provide assistance with fabricating prototype models. I am about to purchase a 44' Cutter rigged Ketch to serve as a "transformative" test vessel. Feel free to contact me. [e-mail]

[@zfgroup]

The video is showcasing a “innovation vessel” and we are at prototype stage.

[@mitfreundlichengrussen1234]

ZF - What a waste of my time and your money - instead of technical information about the product: music from the worst, and at the end of the video a datasheet... Get some people involved that know about the product and its use, let them talk, and give some background info or at least real info. (Maybe read the comments/questions here and address them. (What do you need the drone-shots for, the drive is underwater)

[@zfgroup]

We are sorry you did not like our overview video. It is of course not too technical to show all the different features and capabilities of the steerable electric saildrive. Drone-shots are for showing the real maneuverability of the boat (360° rotation on its axis, side movements, etc). More technical info will be available as soon as the series production will start.

[@zfgroup]

Thank you very much Goeff Strebel, just in case you have additional questions, feel free to contact us via [e-mail] anytime

[@rajvirk6260]

Price ???

[@arrivalsantoniyus6337]

⛵🇩🇪👑🇩🇪⛵January 25' 2020⛵To Whom It May Concern :⛵Prof. Santoniyus, Arrival Julansen. B.Sc., H.C., M.B.A., Ph. D in Progress ⛵January 25' 2020⛵🇩🇪👑🇩🇪⛵

[@humanitynow1565]

How much ?

[@zfgroup]

Thanks for your request. If you are interested in the electric propulsion system for sail drives, please send a mail to [e-mail]. We will contact you then.

[@david6054]

​@@zfgroup And here is the problem with companies like this and the problem with the boating world. Always demanding you to send a email or call them. "Oh but every system is custom, we can't give you a price just like that". Yes you can, just give a base price for a x kw system excluding installation, every child can figure out that the actual costs depend on the work needed but companies like this like to scam people. Let's say we take a 2k motor, 8k battery, 800 controller for a total of 10.8k excluding some small stuff and instalation. BAM! Drop in replacement for your old diesel. Then comes along one of these "innovation" companies, and they sell the same stuff for 30-40k just because they slapped a "marine" label on it. No thanks I am happy with custom building my stuff and buying what I need from companies that are upfront in their price, I don't have time to email 10 different companies to get their base price. "If your price ain't online, you are not worth my time!" And then I will be running a lot more efficient than a 125kw motor running at

[@user-xg7vt4tr6q]

Зачем такая сложная схема?

[@zfgroup]

The overlay at 0:25 is showing all the different elements in the real position on the boat. These electronic components are needed in all electric propulsion systems.