Silent Yachts

[Micele]

Of de Tesla of the seas...

Drijft zijn productie op naar 12 electrische jachten per jaar.

Batterijpacks 150 tot 532 kWh.
Zonnepanelen 10 tot 26 kWp productie.

~17m, 18,3m en 24,4 meter catamaran (55, 60 en 80 ft)

Enz... enkel voor diegene die het kunnen betalen.

11 varen er ondertussen.

Video met details.

https://electrek.co/2020/11/26/tesla...ic-catamarans/

Silent Yachts, which has been described as the “Tesla of the seas”, is ramping up production of its electric catamarans.

The company now has 10 boats under construction and they are increasing production capacity to be able to produce dozens of electric boats a year.

That may not sound like a lot, but boat production can be a slow process and is difficult to deploy at scale for larger vessels like the Silent Yachts electric catamarans.

They have been delivering electric catamarans for years and now have a full line up of three boats: 55-ft, 60-ft, and 80-ft.

These boats are all powered by solar power and batteries.

Depending on the size, they can produce between 10 and 26 kW of solar power and be equipped with 150 to 532 kWh of battery capacity.

The latter is the equivalent in energy capacity of more than 5 Tesla Model S sedans.

Silent Yachts can be solely powered by clean energy with the solar panels and batteries feeding electric motors or use a generator depending on your type of use.

Here the company produced a video showing a typical use case of a Silent Yacht:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH5z...ture=emb_title

Silent Yachts has now delivered 11 electric yachts that are currently on the water, but they are seeing strong demand and ramping up production.

Plugboats reports:

“To meet demand, Silent-Yachts has new shipyards in Thailand and Italy. The Asian yard, about 220 km from Bangkok, is led by Swiss entrepreneur Philippe Guénat and is the largest privately-owned shipyard in South East Asia. In Fano, Italy, a series of Silent 60s are now under construction and a second line is being set up to provide capacity for building 15 Silent 60s a year.”

On top of those 15 Silent 60s, the company is currently building one Silent 55, its entry-level boat, and 4 Silent 80s, its biggest vessel.

Starting at roughly $2 million, we are not talking about cheap boats, but the price is actually competitive with non-solar/battery vessels of that level of capability and luxury.

Here are a few picture of the Silent Yacht 55:

https://www.silent-yachts.com/

Enkele FAQs

https://www.silent-yachts.com/faqs/

What is the difference between a SILENT-YACHT and a conventionally powered yacht?

Conventional motor yachts are powered by diesel- or gas-engines. Additionally, they have a generator on board to supply all household appliances. Hence, depending on the size of the yacht, a total number of 2 or 3 diesel-engines are used provide propulsion and feed the household devices with energy.

Sailing-yachts need a diesel-engine too. Depending on the operational area as well as the wind- and weather-conditions, a diesel-engine is required in addition to the sails for the propulsion of the boat. When anchoring in a quiet bay, the diesel-engine also ensures the energy-supply of the household appliances on board.

As most yachts use gas for cooking, the open flame not only heats up the interior but also causes an imminent threat. Furthermore, on many yachts the consumables like water and energy are managed in a way that enforces the skipper to visit a marina every two or three days to charge the batteries and to buy water for shower and drinking.

Lastly, a conventionally powered boat has a range of 300 to 500 nautical miles before needing to refill the diesel-engine. The use of a combustion-engine is, of course, inevitably also combined with noise, exhausts and oily films in the water.

In comparison, a SILENT-YACHT stores the energy generated through the solar panels in large capacity batteries. This electrical energy is used for propulsion and well as powering all household appliances on board. All this happens completely noiseless, without vibrations and pollution while also offering the possibility of having virtually unlimited range.

How many kW do the solar panels generate?

The exact number varies from model to model. On the SILENT 60, for example, the panels produce around 17kWp, which results in around 100kWh per day. This enables you to travel up to 125 miles every day, exclusively powered by the sun and run all the amenities like air conditioning, TV etc. as well as domestic appliances.

Can the generator charge depleted batteries and power the ship including all the appliances on board while the boat is underway?

Yes. The generator can recharge the battery whenever necessary. However, it is generally not required to start the generator for the operation of any of the household appliances on board. It is also not required to start the generator for higher cruising speeds. It merely functions as a emergency back up in case you travel long distances at high cruising speeds without sunlight as this could possibly deplete the battery reserves. Nevertheless, you can still go for 12 hours solely powered by the batteries even during the night at 6 knots speed.

How does the cooling and heating work ?

When the windows are closed, you can enjoy using the unique aeration-system which is installed in all the cabins, bathrooms and the saloon. It provides individually adjustable cool and fresh air at any time. The system can also can be combined with the air-conditioning. The roof overhang and the UV protection of the saloon windows also help to keep the inside of boat cool. In reverse mode, the heat-pump provides a warm and cosy interior all season long.

Do you provide enough energy for a water maker ?

Yes. The water makers we offer produce 100 to 450 liters per hour. They require around 1 KWh of energy per 300 liters of produced water. Thus, the consumption is only a fraction of the production of the solar panels. Therefore the energy needed for the water production can easily be supplied by the solar panels during the day or by the batteries during the night.

What about the Kite Sail System ?

The Kite Sail Options is available for all our models. In comparison to a regular sail, the kite has several advantages:

- No shade created on the panels

- Much higher performance

- Less maintenance required

- Lower maintenance costs

It perfectly complements noiseless electric drive and is an effective addition to every SILENT-YACHT.

Algemeen:

Autonomy

SILENT-YACHTS are true world cruisers with the possibility of unlimited range, even when the sun is not shining. In case of longer periods of bad weather, the range extender automatically starts to recharge the lithium Batteries when they are low. Their capacity provides ample energy for propulsion as well as all household appliances including the air conditioning, ice-machine, water-maker or laptops (230 VAC / 110 VAC). There is no need to search for a marina in order to charge the batteries, get ice, refuel or to fill the water tanks. A SILENT-YACHT can virtually cruise for weeks without fuel or the need to start the generator.

Luxury

High levels of luxury require permanently available energy. On a SILENT-YACHT, you can watch TV, enjoy a cold beer, have the air conditioning running and produce up to 2000 liters of drinking water per day without starting the generator. The air conditioning cools down the boat quickly and efficiently whenever needed. This, of course, is also true for heating during cold weather.

Efficiency and Weight

Underwater lines are optimized by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and towing-tank tests. The lightweight construction is a result of bionic design, the use of carbon fibers and high-quality resins. Interior furniture is made of stiff and lightweight composite plates with real wood-veneer. This reduces the weight significantly to about half the weight of a conventionally constructed and powered yacht. Each kg / pound saved is equivalent to less wave drag and friction and therefore less energy required to move the boat.

Overall, this leads to high levels of efficiency enabling fast and self-sustaining propulsion. Salon and cabins are wrapped in thermal insulation. Furthermore, all windows are shaded by either the roof and/or the hull, thus lowering the energy consumption needed to keep the interior at comfortable temperature levels.

Reliability

All the electrical components are of high industrial quality and are being engineered / built in Europe and the USA. Motors, inverters and their cables are IP69 certified. This means that they even work when permanently submerged in highly pressurized water. In comparison to a conventional diesel powered propulsion system an electric motor is far more reliable as the only moving parts are the rotor and its two bearings. Fuel bases problems are an issue of the past as well. All wirings are tin-coated and all plugs feature a custom design which prevents humidity and water from entering. Additionally, all parts exposed to the marine environment are made of corrosion resistant materials.

Redundancy & Safety

All vital components are redundant to ensure double safety. The configuration of all components makes sure an overload is impossible, making the solar-electric drivetrain far safer than conventional propulsion systems. We are also proud to say that our catamarans were the first to be certified according to DIN EN ISO 16315 for the marine operations of electrically powered yachts.

Dromen mag hé.

[Micele]

Volkswagen gaat vol meedoen met electrische boten, en worden partners van Silent Yachts.

Met hun MEB platform enz...

50 per jaar om te beginnen...

In Spanje (middellandse zee) komen de E-jachten tot hun recht, zeker genoeg zon voor de panelen.

https://electrek.co/2021/01/27/vw-so...silent-yachts/



VW has launched a new project to bring to market a new solar-electric yacht in partnership with Silent Yachts using its MEB platform for electric vehicles and a design from its CUPRA team.

We previously reported on Silent Yachts, which is sometimes described as the “Tesla of the seas.”

They produce boats that are powered by solar power and batteries.

Depending on the size, they can produce between 10 and 26 kW of solar power and be equipped with 150 to 532 kWh of battery capacity.

The latter is the equivalent in energy capacity of more than five Tesla Model S sedans.

Silent Yachts can be solely powered by clean energy with the solar panels and batteries feeding electric motors or use a generator depending on your type of use.

Silent Yachts has now delivered 11 electric yachts that are currently on the water, but they are seeing strong demand, and we reported on them ramping up production last year.

VW getting involved with solar-electric yachts

Now Volkswagen is getting involved through a new partnership with Silent Yachts that started as part of an entrepreneur program at the German automaker.

Michael Jost, head of group strategy product as well as CSO of the Volkswagen brand, explains:

Within the Volkswagen Group, we have set up an innovation fund to promote innovative business ideas. About 18 months ago, I was presented with a project to use the MEB in a yacht. At first, I thought the idea was absurd. But then we got to know the potential partner, Silent-Yachts. We were impressed by how committed the company is to the topic of CO? neutrality as a supplier of solar-electric powered yachts and has long been considered a sustainability pioneer in the industry. I then discussed with Michael Köhler what we could deliver in a cooperation – namely emotional design and proven technology and can thus bring the Modular E-Drive System MEB from land to water for the first time.

The goal is for VW’s CUPRA to design a new version of Silent Yatchs’ solar-electric vessel powered by the VW’s MEB electric powertrain used in vehicles like the ID.3 and ID.4.

Jost added:

Our Spanish CUPRA colleagues supply the design and we supply the MEB-based powertrain – i.e., batteries, pulse-controlled inverters and the engines from the Volkswagen portfolio. Our software partners also adapt applications – a pulse-controlled inverter is programmed differently for a car than for a yacht. Silent-Yachts can also further adapt the interfaces of our software for their needs. Our current plan is to install up to six batteries per yacht and to enable 500 kW power for yacht sizes around 50 feet plus.

They plan to have the first MEB-powered and CUPRA-designed Silent-Yachts in the water as soon as next year and ramp up production to about 50 vessels per year.

[Tavek]

Silent as well

[Jay-P.]

Met je tijd meegaan, Tavek. 't Is hier de Limburg ni, hé!

[Aurora_Borealis]

Oorspronkelijk geplaatst door Jay-P.

Met je tijd meegaan, Tavek. 't Is hier de Limburg ni, hé!

Een Imoca 60 met hydrofoils, prachtige boten... helaas alleen weggelegd voor doorwinterde Vendéé Globe zeilers.

[Micele]

Electrische zonnenboot (met windzeil) gelanceerd.

Tot 160 km per dag extra door de zon, dankzij 42 panelen.

En als de wind goed staat kun je de motoren uitzetten.

https://electrek.co/2021/11/29/silen...-from-the-sun/

The SILENT-60 solar yacht specs

In addition to being a yacht completely powered using solar energy, Silent Yachts has now shared an additional kite wing option that can deliver even more clean range to the Silent-60.

According to the press release, the SILENT-60 will be the first vessel to be fitted with a nine or 13 square meter kite wing, although the option will now be available on all Silent Yacht models.

After deploying the compact kite, it drifts away on the surface of the water before pulling taught and launching into the air. When it reaches its optimal flight height, the kite begins to trace a “figure 8” in the sky, generating additional power to pull the solar yacht. Silent Yacht founder Michael Köhler elaborates:

The main advantages of a kite over a conventional sail system are that it does not throw shade on the solar panels, does not need a tall mast, and generates up to 10 times more power per square meter than a traditional sail. In addition to that it saves about 1.5 tons of weight compared to conventional rig and costs much less. It makes even more sense for the SILENT boats that run on renewable solar energy because the power generated by a kite easily exceeds the energy consumption of the system, so you can charge the batteries while cruising under kite power. And besides that, it’s great fun!

When yacht owners want to stop kiting, an automated app controls the kite, moving it to a position right above the boat where it has the least pull on the line. This allows for more easy electric winching down over the foredeck for stowage.

In addition to the wind kite option, the SILENT-60 yacht comes with 42 solar panels, garnering 17 kWp of energy from the sun to power two, 340 kW electric motors. The system is backed by a battery capacity up to 286 kWh.

As a required safety measure, the SILENT-60 is equipped with a generator and 1,000 liters of fuel. However, according to the Silent-Yachts’ owners, they almost never use it because they have enough solar power and electric energy.

According to Silent Yachts, the SILENT-60 can cruise efficiently with zero emissions using solar power only for up to 100 nautical miles a day and can maintain that pace for weeks. The vessel’s cruise speed is six to eight knots, but it can get up to a top speed of 20 knots using the all-electric motors.

The SILENT-60 comes with four guest cabins but can be designed with a custom layout for those willing to pay a bit more. Speaking of which, the SILENT-60 starts at 2.39 million euros ($2.69 million).

The first of these SILENT-60 solar yachts was built in Thailand, but the company plans to build future units in Italy. Furthermore, Silent Yachts has already shared design plans for a SILENT-80 and SILENT-100 Explorer vessel.

More electrified boats are sure to make their maiden voyage soon. In the meantime, check out this launch video detailing the style and luxury of the SILENT-60:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjsIHb5u8PY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1roR92nDgk