Sailing SV Delosvideo
Inside Our Hybrid Electric Propulsion – Technical Breakdown
February 26, 2025 · 26 min · 263K views
What this video covers
A custom aluminum expeditionary catamaran under construction features a hybrid electric propulsion system designed for redundancy and efficiency.0:10 The setup centers on an 80-horsepower Nanni N480 diesel engine paired with two 25-kilowatt liquid-cooled electric motors from Combi.1:49 One motor connects to the diesel engine via an electromagnetic clutch and a belt-drive reduction system, allowing it to function as a high-output DC generator or provide supplemental propulsion.2:24 The second motor mounts directly to the opposite propeller shaft to provide independent electric drive.4:14 The system operates in four modes: pure electric, diesel-only, regenerative charging under sail, and a hybrid mode that uses the diesel engine to drive one shaft while simultaneously generating power for the second electric motor.6:53 The boat utilizes EcoStar propellers matched to a target cruising shaft speed of 900 RPM.3:13 Control is managed through electronic throttles, with no mechanical linkage between the port and starboard shafts.10:32 If the electric components fail, the vessel retains a traditional diesel-to-shaft propulsion system as a primary fallback.12:50
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