Any industrial designers, or others, on the list heard of any companies in the electric boat business for recreational users.
I believe that some submarines in WWII used two phase diesel electric hybrid drive just like GM's diesel electric hybrid railroad train engines, and just as GM contemplates applying to its automobile in the not too distant future.
For those not familiar, a diesel motor is used to turn a generator to charge batteries connected to electric motors that propel the vehicle.
I am interested in exploring this mean of propulsion for recreational boat usage.
I read recently that within 2, or 3, years, a new generation of cheap, highly efficient solar cells sandwiched effectively between cellophane layers are going to be ready for surface applications to all types of structures and vehicles. Their broadest application will be house and building roofs. But I am interested in covering a boat with them and supplementing the electricity of the diesel engine in a two-phase diesel electric hybrid.
I know this is not Charles Eames stuff, but industrial design is a legitimate part of the DA experience, too.
After all, we just had a thread recently about Renzo Piano's building in San Francisco in which some thought it high time for engineering to come to the forefront of design and architecture.
I'm interested in what a pleasure boat optimized for energy efficiency might look like with this sort of a propulsion system.
Why am I not exploring sail technology? Simple, I want to use this particular boat on a river, where wind propulsion is not viable because of the topography and winds. But a diesel electric supplemented by solar cells might be a good fit.
There was a programme on the...
There was a programme on the Discovery about a guy who retro fitted an electric motor to a 1930's slipper launch, was a pretty straightforward conversion with power coming from a brace of car batteries, (they needed to be charged overnight from a land power outlet)
Turned out really well, pretty much zero maintenance compared to a piston engine and very quiet, perfect for cruising along the Thames 🙂
Riva Aquarama
On the subject of boats this is my dreamboat
apologies for the thread diversion!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riva_Aquarama
Is this it DC?
Is this the solar tech you mentioned (see link)?
There's also nanotech paint in development with the potential to harvest solar energy similar to solar panels.
http://www.powerfilmsolar.com/products/mainbrochure.htm
I just don't understand this ...
I just don't understand this shallow ethical stance, these technologies might have applications for public transport which will be wonderful but if people really want to help and do the right thing we have to make real sacrifices, heres an amazing idea...why not just not have a boat? Do you need a boat, who the bloody hell needs a boat? Cars are bad enough, its time everyone woke up to the fact that its pretty hard to have the cake and the sweet thing too, all these 'green' cars, theres no such thing, its completely ridiculous.
I've been looking at all this stuff online lately and so many people seem to think they're doing the right thing buying the dishwasher or whatever with a great energy rating, are they that freaking lazy they can't wash their own dishes? Its all just lip service.
WoofWoof...
That has to be the firm, though I was told about this by a scientist who did not mention the firm name. Also, he gave me the impression that there were going to be several versions of this stuff hitting the market, not just one from one firm. Could be wrong though. Any way, thanks so much for the link.
Hi dcwilson
I had a look...
Hi dcwilson
I had a look on youtube but couldn't find any videos, they don't seem to have it listed on the discovery channel site either 🙁 you could try a torent site might be able to get it there
Details of the programme are on the presenters home page below
http://www.tomcunliffe.com/boatyard.htm
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