First video...showing the installation
The installation of the electric pod drive is getting there and I really want to show you how it is developing. While visiting the ship yard yesterday we made this little video. The feeling... knowing that we already did get rid of the fossil fuel engine...and now being able to install a sleek electric pod drive in the boat is absolutely awesome. Well designed and updated green technology mounted in my boat - Yeay, I have to admit like it a lot!
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PS. I use to stand behind the camera as a producer. Yesterday I found myself in front of it, realizing I have a new challenge to deal with...remembering what to say. So, here is more or less what I forgot to mention:
THE STATEMENT – DOING A TESLA ON WATER
Going electric is the future – why spending money on digging for oil when energy is raining for free from the sky? There are a bunch of great sailors around the world that have been, and are, installing electric engines onboard their boats. I am happy and excited to join them. I dedicate my project to the issue itself and to the generations to come. Hopefully we can inspire more of you boating people to join in...
THE BOAT
...is a Smaragd, 34 foot (10.15 x 2.23 meter) and 3.3 tons. A classical "racing" sailboat designed in the 1970-ies in Sweden. The one you see in the video was brand new when my pregnant girlfriend and I bought her in 1991. Our son was born a week later and after sailing four amazing summers with him, our daughter was brutally forced to like sailing as well:-) The boat was sold in 2003 and last year I bought her back myself. A decision based on 100% emotions by the way:-)
THE POD DRIVE AND HYDROPOWER
It is a sail drive electric engine, by Torqeedo in Germany. The Cruise 4.0 FP is suitable for sailboats up to 4 tons. It is a high-efficiency pod motor (fixed position) serving you with 8-9.9 HP equivalent. Delivered with a remote throttle, integrated on-board computer with GPS-based range calculation, 25 mm² cable set (3 m) including fuse and main switch and a weedless propeller (1916-00). I also got myself a folding propeller (1251-00).
THE OLD ENGINE
The old fossil fuel engine and the tank full with fuel and everything else adds up to some 80-90 kilos. Two heavy lead batteries not included. They are now all gone. Instead there is a cable sticking up...
THE THROTTLE
A side mounted throttle for sailboats have been installed where the gear and throttle was installed earlier.
THE COMPUTER AND "SUPER CHARGER"
One shining metal box is the brain running the nerve system between the engine and the two lithium batteries and the throttle. The other metal box is the shore power charger, which I will not use this summer (in fact it will be sealed officially by a lawyer in Oslo and not opened before I arrive in Stockholm). The "super charger" is however a fast charger of 1700 W designed for my Power 26-104 Lithium batteries. It is also watertight to IP65. From a 230 V power supply it gives 60 Amperes (max. 1700 W) and fills up one battery in less than 2 hours. How long time it takes to fill up a battery using the hydropower with the propeller while sailing will be something I will tell you more about later...I am sooo much looking forward to test it and to collect data on that for sure.
THE LITHIUM BATTERIES
The two high-performance lithium batteries are delivering 2,685 Wh each. Their rated voltage is 25.9 V, and they charge 104 Ah each. They weigh 24,3 kg each and integrated in them are a smart battery management system with integrated protection against overcharging, short circuit, deep discharge, polarity reversal, overheating and submersion. They are waterproof to IP67.
