EV Boat

13/08/2018 – 2HP Electric Outboard conversion

 

 

 

 

 

02/02/2018 – Phase 3 – Update

 

 

 

22/10/2017 – Phase 3

Addition of a 16000BTU HVAC system. Due to the high efficiency of the heat pump this is the ideal option for an all electric boat. It’s being powered by a Solar Inverter System. With an external temperature of 8 to 9C it heats up the whole cabin to 20C is less than 15 minutes.

 

 

20/08/2017 – Phase 2

 

 

 

15/08/2017 – Phase 1

 

 

 

 

 

15/01/2017

As of January 15, we have three drive systems under consideration.

1. The Mars motor outboard motor (36 to 48 VDC) or Minn Kota thruster (36V), that could be mounted to the transom.

   

   

2. The 3 phase 208 VAC 5 or 8 hp. Electric motors powered from the 48 VDC 3 phase inverter with Vector drive controller and joystick.

1. We have acquired a 2009 Miles 72 VDC EV van to evaluate removing it’s drive train and batteries to mount in the boat. It used AC motors that are paired to Curtis-Albright AC Motor Controllers.

 

New Stage of the project – 28/10/2016

For this new stage we’re going to do the electric conversion of a Chris-Craft boat with a combustion engine. The conversion will include several solar panels, a battery bank, a VFD controlled 7.5HP AC Electric motor and a 10kW 208VAC 3 Phase Power Inverter. A heat pump will also be added at a later stage.

 

The photo below is the 36 volt 100 amp hr. Sinopoly Battery Limited lithium battery pack model SP-LFP100AHA used for this test. It can be charged with its 115 VAC plugin line charger or via its Zahn 250 Watt DC to DC solar charger. Both chargers cut out at 41.2 VDC with current limiting of 10 amps max.

Please see battery data sheet  for details.

Sinopoly 100AH Specs

 

 

Sept. 7/2013 using a Mars DC motor and converting a 9.9 Honda to electric along with
100 amp hr. lithium battery pack response testing of the boat were conducted.

Speed in Knots	Current	Voltage	Watts	Hp.
3.0 K	90 amps.	35.5 volts	3195	4.26
3.1 K	107	35.5	3798	5.06
3.6 K	165	34.5	5693	7.59
3.9 K	300	32	9600	12.8

The results indicate that a 5 horsepower 230 VAC Vector drive system will be satisfactory for our application.

 

The Mars motor outboard Honda conversion is for sale as well for $ 1,500.

 

EV Mars DC 8 to 15 hp./9.9 Honda electric conversion

 

 

We are always looking for partners and interested parties regarding these development projects and welcome contacts and questions regarding these projects and others you may have.

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2009

There are a number of systems improvements that we plan to undertake for next season in the area of high-pressure hydrogen storage tanks, ultra-capacitors in place of batteries and electro-mechanical layout. Since we are now able to supply substantial amounts of power from 12 volts D.C. through to 240 volts 3 phase AC we are evaluating such applications as forced air heating, a heat pump system and a portable emergency water and power module for disaster applications.

 

 

 

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2007

We sailed to Goldstream in the fall of 2007, in the sloop “Jim D”, which was assisted with a Horizon H300 fuel cell. After an evaluation of the trip, we estimated that the electric motor powering the boat needed to be in the range of 2 to 4 horsepower. As off the shelf solutions were not immediately evident, the plan to modify a Yamaha motor from gas to electric was conceived.

 

 

The design was based on available technologies that were easily combined and affordable. The first system was deployed in early June on Ian Soutar’s 18-foot cabin cruiser, “Pepper Pot”. It was on display with the sloop “Jim D” at the Tall Ship Festival in Victoria. The “Jim D” had been fitted with a Minn Kota, model RT202/EM, a 4 horsepower dual electric motor system capable of producing over 200 pounds of thrust. This was a 36 VDC, 98-amp unit that required an even larger fuel cell system than we had originally planned.

YouTube Video
In an attempt to accelerate our development plan, we became involved with the Mechatronics program at the University of Victoria. A group of 5 fourth year mechanical and electrical engineering students undertook the development of a dual 1.2-kilowatt fuel cell system along with finalizing the Yamaha conversion kit. In mid August, a working prototype was ready for deployment. The resulting architecture was even better than we had expected, allowing the operation of up to 4 parallel fuel stacks by one master controller. This would allow for redundancy in the system and permit up to 4.8-kilowatts of power at a much reduced cost.

 

 

While the pair of 1.2-kilowatt fuel cells were being worked on at the University and using the B.C government carbon tax refund, the boat was outfitted with 35 watts of Canadian Tire solar panels. They provided sufficient power for local operations of the Jim D on a daily basis. During this period of testing, it was found that only one of the RT202/EM motors was required for the boat to reach a maximum speed of 4 miles per hour, the speed being limited by the 4-inch pitch of the propeller. It was also established that only 550 to 600 watts of power was required to maintain this speed for extended periods of time. As a result, the fuel cell system was trimmed back to a single Palcan PC5, 1.2-kilowatt fuel cell stack.

 

 

September and October has seen continued testing of the combination fuel cell/solar power system with very satisfactory results. My appreciation to Palcan for all of their technical assistance and to the Selkirk Station Kayak and Bike for supplying hydrogen this year.

 

 

In May of this year, I purchased 40 litres of gasoline for the sailboat and after some 150 miles and 5 months of use, I still have about 30 to 35 litres left. The gasoline is used as ballast to help keep the electric motor portion of the gas/ electric hybrid outboard motor under the surface of the water. The other benefit of using only one of the electric motors is that the weight reduction has made it easer to manually lift the outboard into its normal out of water storage position.

 

 

As a result of seeing the news stories about Canada’s first fuel cell assisted sailboat, the Alumni Association of Loyalist College, Belleville Ontario has nominated me for this year’s Ontario Premiers Award for Technology. I will also receive the “Best Innovation Award” from the Esquimalt Chamber of Commerce at the Annual General Meeting, November 19, 2008. I wish to thank those involved for these honors.