Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.
Note: You must be registered in order to post a reply. To register, click here. Registration is FREE!
T O P I C R E V I E W
Bill Holcomb
Posted - 12/17/2019 : 17:01:05 Several years ago, I wanted to reduce my carbon footprint, eliminate the noise and the smells of a gasoline outboard. So, I replaced my Mercury outboard engine with an electric Torqeedo. I have never regretted my decision. It's been a "learning situation" with no one locally who had any first-hand information regarding this sort of outboard power. I have learned a "ton". And, I've made several additions since the original install. I've posted to my Barnacle Bill Blog an update. Enjoy... http://barnaclebillholcomb.blogspot.com/
Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839
5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
sethp001
Posted - 01/16/2020 : 18:58:39
quote:Originally posted by Stinkpotter
quote:Originally posted by keats
Now compare that to gasoline at 12000 Wh/kg and, yikes, you can see how that will be hard to replace.
But once that kg of gasoline is "discharged", it's gone forever--more like the Energizer Bunny.
I applaud Bill. I've lusted for a quiet electric motor setup for years, but the energy density issue and the relative cost per Wh have been insurmountable hurdles for me.
Grato
Posted - 01/09/2020 : 13:33:44 Bill, Thanks for your post. I have been researching Torqueedo outboards (again) and seriously considering going that route this year. I'm tired of the brain damage and stress the carb causes me on my old outboard!
Although Torqueedo "recommends" the Cruise 2.0 for sailboats up to 3 tons, I was a bit skeptical. My current outboard is a Yamaha 9.9 but after thinking about the HP loss at altitude (I sail at 9017') it's really only a 7.2 HP motor, and an old one at that, and I almost never go full throttle. So happy to hear you have only good things to say about the Cruise 2.0.
I am also really pleased to hear that you could make a 30nm trip on a single charge with your original (2) battery bank. I only motor out of my slip long enough to raise the mainsail and then at the end of the session motor back in to the slip. So I'd be drawing off the battery bank for about 15 min's tops and maybe .75nm per session. Since I don't have shore power at my slip, I am hoping to take it totally off the grid by installing (2) 50W P.V. panels wired in series (24V system) to top off the batteries when the motor isn't in use. I'm planning on using (2) 12V / 100Ah AGM batteries wired in series as you have (24V system) for the power bank. I will of course start off with fully charged cells before the solar trickle charging scheme.
-Mark
Stinkpotter
Posted - 12/18/2019 : 21:44:48
quote:Originally posted by keats
Now compare that to gasoline at 12000 Wh/kg and, yikes, you can see how that will be hard to replace.
But once that kg of gasoline is "discharged", it's gone forever--more like the Energizer Bunny.
keats
Posted - 12/18/2019 : 05:00:51 Interesting Bill and nice work. This illustrates why battery development has become the Holy Grail of electric transport.
Your lead-acid batteries have a specific energy of about 30 watt-hours per kilogram. If you could fit up a lithium-ion battery bank you could take that up to 150 Wh/kg which is quite an improvement.
The Tesla NCA batteries have an even more impressive specific energy of about 250 Wh/kg. I think smaller versions of these batteries will become safer and more commercially available for applications like yours.
Now compare that to gasoline at 12000 Wh/kg and, yikes, you can see how that will be hard to replace.
Stinkpotter
Posted - 12/17/2019 : 23:29:42 I've been on a boat driven by a Torqeedo--the silence was wonderful! I applaud your contribution! I guess I went the other way... ...although at 5-6 mph my big Honda (essentially idling) is barely audible, and sucks some fraction of a gallon per hour. I'll defer on talking about the footprint at 25 mph cruise, but who knows--it might not look bad compared to coal-fired electricity to generate the same power.
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ. The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.