Electric Sailing Yachts

It's taken a long time, but the electric sailing revolution is now firmly on the horizon and electric and hybrid propulsion systems are a working reality. An interesting boost to the sector came last year when Dr Charles Kuehmann, Vice President of Materials Engineering at Tesla and SpaceX, bought an Elan GT5 sailing yacht and equipped it with a Torqeedo Deep Blue 25 kW electric system.

The yacht was purchased new from Elan and shipped to a boatyard in San Diego where its diesel engine was replaced by the Deep Blue system. The pairing of Elan's superior design with Torqeedo's hybrid electric technology was a perfect match, according to Dr Kuehmann.

Electric Propulsion: Pros and Cons

The advantages of electric yacht propulsion are less about saving money and more about minimal maintenance and the joy of silent, zero-emission sailing. Improved manoeuvrability is another definite plus. As Dr Kuehmann observed: "I use it when I'm in the marina where I need a lot of control. Maneuvering the boat with electric is so much smoother than a diesel. The instant torque and immediate power delivery make the boat very easy to handle".

But as the technology stands right now, the downsides can't be overlooked. For starters, the price is high. For a reliable, high-quality system, buyers should expect to pay 20-30% more than a comparable diesel-powered yacht. Range is often cited as a limiting factor. Even the most high-end systems are limited to a maximum of a few hours motoring, which can translate to as little as 25 to 70 miles at 5 knots. Another factor to consider is the availability of ports and marinas with the electrical infrastructure to re-charge batteries.

Dr Charles Kuehmann aboard his Elan GT5

Options for an Electric Boat

Two options are available: pure electric (high and low voltage) and electric hybrid. Low-voltage systems are the easiest to install and manage. Owners of small boats can even forego cutting-edge technology in favour of conventional lead acid batteries.

High-voltage electric systems are more advanced, and by deploying lithium-ion technology their capacity is improving rapidly. As of 2021, the ultimate showcase for high-voltage systems is the recently launched Spirit 111, a 34m masterpiece and one of the most environmentally-friendly superyachts ever built.

The yacht's 100kW electric motor can propel her silently for 30 miles at 8 knots using battery power alone. And while in motion, the propeller regenerates power to the four 40kWh BMW battery banks, making it possible for the Spirit 111 to run for up to four days without needing to start a generator or plug into shorepower. The photos below show the Spirit 111 during sea trials in the UK's Solent.

There's a bit of confusion as to what an electric hybrid system consists of. Some journalists claim it's an electric system supported by a diesel-powered generator that can be used to re-charge the battery.

But the general consensus is that hybrid propulsion systems features a variable combination of a diesel-powered engine, generators, battery packs and electric motors. Able to switch between modes – electric, diesel/electric, or full diesel – hybrid propulsion yachts allow their owners to use them in the most efficient way possible. And as with their pure electric counterparts, hybrid yachts excel at reducing or eliminating emissions when in harbour or exploring ecologically sensitive environments.

Elan Announces Partnership with Oceanvolt

In February 2021 Elan Yachts announced a partnership with Oceanvolt, a Finnish company specializing in the development of hybrid and electric yacht-propulsion systems. The partnership aims to create a full range of electric-powered yachts – from the luxurious GT6 (styled by Porsche Design) to the practical Impression yachts and the sporty E-Line of performance cruisers. A "hybrid solution" will also be made available. This comes in the form of a 48V DC generator which can be started when batteries run dry.

This partnership is hot off the press and at the time of writing (March 2021) no mock-ups, photos or videos were available. We'll post more information as and when it becomes available.

Electric Sailing Yachts, New Zealand

Pinnacle Marine is New Zealand's exclusive distributor for Elan Yachts. We have an in-depth knowledge of this award-winning brand, their core principles and future goals. If there's anything you'd like to know about electric sailing yachts in New Zealand – whether pure electric or hybrid – we'd love to hear from you.