German company Volabo has announced that it has started what it says is the first series production 48-volt high performance electric boat drive, with delivery due at the end of 2020.
According to Volabo, its ISCAD V50 electric drive will be able to provide a peak power of 80kW. It is suitable for use in motor boats and sailing yachts and will be approved for use in the boating sector according to the Recreational Craft Directive, it says.
Optimised generation
The production version represents an optimised fifth generation of the drive. Development over six years has included four earlier motor generations, according to the company.
Volabo is taking orders for the ISCAD V50 electric drive. It offers a nominal rated output of 50kW, and the company says it can deliver this high power at a ‘safe to touch’ voltage better suited to use on water.
In its announcement of the start of production, Volabo explains that the new drive has a particularly reinforced end shield. This, it says, means the motor can be mounted vertically or horizontally. “It is therefore suitable for the electrification of sail drives, outboards, shaft drives and Z-drives,” the company states.
The electric boat drive with integrated controller is 265.5mm long and 254mm in diameter, according to Volabo, claiming that its weight of 45kg is significantly less than comparable models.
Low-voltage benefits
The company says that the wiring and clamping technology for low-voltage systems is much simpler compared to high-voltage systems. It says that integration and maintenance are possible at 48 volts without special high-voltage training and that no regular high-voltage technical inspection is required for the boat sector. It adds that efficient, low-voltage semiconductors can also be used in ISCAD V50.
In its announcement, Volabo quotes managing director Adrian Patzak as saying: “We are very pleased to launch our first certified product. ISCAD V50 is the world’s first series-produced electric drive that can generate a continuous output of 50 kilowatts at safe to touch voltages of 48 volts.”
Volabo says that it has already received a number of awards for its innovation, including the German Mobility Award 2018 from the Federal Ministry of Transport, the Create the Future Design Award 2018 from Tech Briefs, and the Handelsblatt Energy Award 2018.