While everyone knows about the electric vehicles the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf (fuel
economy of 93 mpg and 99 mpg respectively) the real growth market in electric vehicles will be in marine vehicles. According to IDtechex, the sales of electric and hybrid marine vehicles are expected to rise from 73,000 in 2013 to 118,000 in 2024. This represents sales that will skyrocket from $2.6 billion to $7.3 billion.
The growth of electric and hybrid marine vehicles includes commercial applications like tugboats, oil slick collectors, tourist boats, military craft, research vessels and autonomous underwater vehicles.
A number of electric marine concept vehicles have already been designed. Alastair Callender, a Coventry University student designed a futuristic green super yacht, which he calls ‘Soliloquy’. It is not only eco-friendly, it is also stylish, elegant and beautiful. The extraordinary green super yacht derives it power from from wind, solar and Hybrid Marine Power (HMP) technology from Solar Sailor Holdings Ltd.
Another green concept called the Aquarius Eco Ship is designed to help sustainability in shipping. It was designed by Peter Garth, maritime professional, Eco Marine Power (EMP). It incorporates the fuel and emissions saving Aquarius Marine Renewable Energy (MRE) system. It is the result of intensive research focused on optimising the design of large ocean going ships. It harnesses the power of the wind & sun using a combination of solar panels, energy storage modules, a computer control system and rigid sails. This concept is designed to be flexible and configurable so that it can applied to a variety of ship sizes and types, including bulk carriers, oil tankers, survey ships, passenger ferries and unmanned surface vessels. Other fuel saving measures from EMP include advanced electrical propulsion system, optimised hull design and waste heat recovery technologies. The company says that this combination of technologies could lead to fuel savings of 40 percent alongwith significant emissions reductions.
NYC already has a very green cruise ship called the Hornblower Hybrid. This state of the art ship runs on renewable power generated by hydrogen fuel cells, solar panels and wind turbines.
© 2014, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.
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