Hybrid Boat

[paulspaddle]

http://23e.epicboats.com/

Is this the first semi-viable consumer hybrid boat?

What ya think?

 

[outboardnut]

Re: Hybrid Boat

I'd have to see it to believe it.

I can't fathom how packing the extra weight of batteries is going to save you fuel. Also, a so called green wakeboard boat is kind of an abomination. They guzzle by nature and I doubt anything will help with their footprint other than just sinking them. It consumes way to much energy for electric to be even considered.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Hybrid Boat

I love the idea but wonder as well how it would really perform day in and out.

That little clip was infuriating, though. Instead of presenting some hard facts backed up by a detailed tour of the boat's systems and specs we get to listen to buddy the boardin' dude rave on about the audio system between slo mo vids of his moves. I guess if that's what's important to that market segment, great. For the rest of us it was about the lamest product demo I've ever seen. Guess I have to submit my order form and deposit to get some meaningful info.

OK - gonna get a coffee now and chill til the caffeine kicks in and I'm once again fit for human company...

 

[steelespike]

Re: Hybrid Boat

Most likely it uses some type of specialized non lead battery(s).As far as performance its probably doable keep in mind we're talking hybrid.Electric may serve as an assist for high performance with a gas motor in operation for cruising electric for low speed manuvering.So a 3.0 setup with electric assist could operate like a 4.3
or more with electric assist.
As far as saving fuel/money most forget that the battries will need replacement and needs to be figured into the equation.The way a boat users fuel the savings could be substantual.I have a Gem electric car it uses 6 Deep cycle lead 12v AGM batteries.$170 each. Regardless of how far you drive the batteries need replacement about every 3 years.If you can drive enough miles in that time you can save money at about $3 a gallon.In central NY its pretty tough to get enough miles in so I'm just having fun and managing my footprint a little better than a regular car.

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Hybrid Boat

I'd have to see it to believe it.

I can't fathom how packing the extra weight of batteries is going to save you fuel. Also, a so called green wakeboard boat is kind of an abomination. They guzzle by nature and I doubt anything will help with their footprint other than just sinking them. It consumes way to much energy for electric to be even considered.

I agree.

Try to find anything about the actual hybrid-powerplant. You'll see lots about the riders and the stereo....seems to be a lot of flash, but not much substance here.

They do claim 1 hour battery life before having to use the engine. 1 hour recharge. Which for a wake board boat is about the right amount of time.

 

[Aviator5]

Re: Hybrid Boat

How much pollution an average boat produces?
How environmentally friendly production and disposing of those batteries is?
How much time the average boat user spends riding his boat?
How much more pricey the hybrid boat will be comparing to the gas powered?
It will take a long time until I'm convinced to buy hybrid boat, or even car.

 

[timmyjoebob]

Re: Hybrid Boat

I love the idea but wonder as well how it would really perform day in and out.

That little clip was infuriating, though. Instead of presenting some hard facts backed up by a detailed tour of the boat's systems and specs we get to listen to buddy the boardin' dude rave on about the audio system between slo mo vids of his moves. I guess if that's what's important to that market segment, great. For the rest of us it was about the lamest product demo I've ever seen. Guess I have to submit my order form and deposit to get some meaningful info.

OK - gonna get a coffee now and chill til the caffeine kicks in and I'm once again fit for human company...

Got to agree. All I saw was wakeboarding and the guy stickin his tongue out. So what!?!

 

[robert graham]

Re: Hybrid Boat

Hybrid Boats are probably going to be a big thing in the future. There's already some very nice electric outboard motors, although mostly used by state parks and such for shuttle service where quiet is a big issue. As they continue to develop hybrids for automotive applications, then marine would be next, as long as they can get the weight, price and complexity down to acceptable levels. Just think how smooth and quiet a hybrid motor would be for pontoon boats operating on lakes and rivers. And there's plenty of folks who really hate screwing around with smokey,noisey, problematic internal combustion outboard motors. If there's a market and money to be made, folks like Honda and Yamaha will do the development. It may be the future!

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Hybrid Boat

I love the idea but wonder as well how it would really perform day in and out.

That little clip was infuriating, though. Instead of presenting some hard facts backed up by a detailed tour of the boat's systems and specs we get to listen to buddy the boardin' dude rave on about the audio system between slo mo vids of his moves. I guess if that's what's important to that market segment, great. For the rest of us it was about the lamest product demo I've ever seen. Guess I have to submit my order form and deposit to get some meaningful info.

OK - gonna get a coffee now and chill til the caffeine kicks in and I'm once again fit for human company...

HA! , me too - I was so annoyed by the end of the vid and visiting their site I almost wrote them....but then I posted here instead.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Hybrid Boat

Actually, one of the best things about an all-electric future boat would be the bellows, you'd only need one. No reason to have water flow or exhaust, just the drive shaft bellows to the outdrive (for I/O applications). I just don't see them being pheasible until battery technology makes it possible to run for 3-4 hours between charges, especially for pleasure boats.

 

[pine island fred]

Re: Hybrid Boat

Also agree, if you are trying to raise interest in a product, you have to do better than wake boarding and raving about the stero system. Interesting, fun project for someone but it is doubtful anyone would order one. Belongs with the other wild ideas you see in POPULAR MECHANICS, or ILLUSTRATED, along with the latest warp drive containment field technology.
Do have experience with batteries ( aircraft ) and can promise batteries have a long way to go before the common guy is using them. Extreamly heavy, to the point that there is a fitting for a hoist to get them into the compartment ( 767 ) and of limited duration on a DC essential bus. Just enough power to get you on the ground. Extended range have a stand by, hydraulic driven DC generator. Probably room for improvement but when it comes it will be expensive and put into aircraft and space equipment first. I consider it snake oil, something for the media to hype.
For instance, CHEVY VOLT is supposed to get 230 mpg. OK, battery is good for 40 miles, then the gas engine kicks in. Lets take the battery out to reduce the weight, should get 190 mpg. Somewhere I am not reading the fine print or my intelligence is being insulted. Be lucky to get 40 mpg, without using wipers, lights or heat.
Sorry I got off the subject. regards FRED

 

[Aviator5]

Re: Hybrid Boat

Bubba, wher are you going to get the power to achieve those 100 hp from the electric motor?

 

[chris75h]

Re: Hybrid Boat

Call me a skeptic but him saying he "will" use less gas this year is no real indication that he has. These marketing ploys get old fast. "We never made any real claims just testimonials" is bs.

I agree with everyone else, show me some real numbers and not the made up ones.

 

[pine island fred]

Re: Hybrid Boat

BUBBA, sounds like an interesting project but give it some thought before you get to far into it. Consider 1 hp. equals 746 watts. My calculations are that you will be drawing close to 800 amps at 96 volts dc. Thats a lot of current.
As a side note, aircraft generators produce 90 KVA or a bit more depending on cooling. They produce 220 volts line to line, 3 phase at 400 cycles. Rule of thumb was that they took 90 hp. to operate. Was noticeable reduction in engine rpm and increase of egt when you had to energize the field to get the thing genning. Keep us posted on your project. regards FRED

 

[Fisherball]

Re: Hybrid Boat

Couple of things I wonder about it. The electric motors are green while they are running but charging the batteries creates carbon. Does one create less than the other or do they just change where they are creating the pollution? How much more HP will the gas motor need to compensate for the amount going to the charging system & moving the weight of the batteries? My first guess would be that they would offset each other & the amount saved wouldn't be worth the investment. What about the carbon & pollution created to make & dispose of the batteries?

Good luck! The theory sounds great.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Hybrid Boat

Unlike a hybrid car, you can't recapture electrical enegy by using regenerative braking in a boat AFAIK. Therefore, I think the laws of physics prevent any decrease in fuel usage at a given horsepower point.

YMMV

 

[DJ]

Re: Hybrid Boat

Two MAJOR issues.

1. Weight.

2. Boats do not coast, like automobiles. That rules out regenerative braking and would drain the batteries at an alarming rate.

But, perception is reality. If you say it's "green" you must be a good person.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Hybrid Boat

Unlike a hybrid car, you can't recapture electrical enegy by using regenerative braking in a boat AFAIK. Therefore, I think the laws of physics prevent any decrease in fuel usage at a given horsepower point.

YMMV

I was waiting for someone to actually bring some sense to this! Hybrid boats (as in hybrid automotive like tech) will NEVER happen in a boat. COMPLETELY different requirements. Cars are vastly overpowered 90% of the time, and you are carrying around alot of engine when you don't need that much most of the time. Boats are the exact opposite. You use every ounce of power with a constant load by the prop, and there is no coasting to speak of. At best you would get a VERY small gain, which would easily be outdone by the additional weight of batteries.