Meet the latest way the superrich prove they’re really, totally worried about the environment: $10 million electric superyachts::Electric cars? The superrich have already moved on to electric yachts.
Electric boats are not something new. Pre-nuclear military submarines were electric with batteries charged by diesel generators. There are some industrial boats that use electric motors powered by diesel generators. Same for freight trains which have been using that configuration for many years.
A substantial generator is required for a large electric power boat, no way around it. It may not need to run full time if there’s a battery, but it would still need to supply the bulk of consumed electrical power. Not really any environmental benefit. Though there are some other benefits in terms of operating costs.
It’s possible to go all electric without a combustion powered generator on a sailboat. That’s feasible and you don’t need a $10M boat to do it, can be done with any sailboat. Though one thing is a boat must have a reliable motor to be seaworthy. You’d still need a generator backup. In that article they state the featured boat does have one. It would have to support the full electrical load of motor, charging, and accessory so I’d expect it to be pretty hefty.
The title of that article is a fallacy really. Sailboats are environmentally friendly anyway. Doesn’t matter if they have an internal combustion engine or electric motor. You only use the motor in situations where you can’t sail such as tight channels or doldrums. That’s infrequent enough to be negligible. Though I have seen people who own sailboats just motor them around all the time. You gotta wonder why buy a sailboat if you’re just going to motor everywhere, but people do it.
DrManhattan@lemmy.design 11 months ago
Electric boats seem like a great idea, especially with all the pollution the really large cruise ships put out. I’m happy to finally see this become mainstream. On the water there’s nothing to really get in the way of solar panels, either, so it makes sense to have them for charging.
buckykat@lemmy.blahaj.zone 11 months ago
There should be no superyachts no matter what powertrain
DrManhattan@lemmy.design 11 months ago
I disagree, but I also don’t have a problem with people or companies being wealthy enough to make or own them, either.
Astroturfed@lemmy.world 11 months ago
The sad part is that shit isn’t even close to a “super” yatch. It’s a very large fancy sailboat. A super yatch is a hole different ball game.
morsebipbip@lemm.ee 11 months ago
you must be joking right someone tell me i’m not getting the /s
qooqie@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Are you thinking he’s joking because electricity + water = zap zap? Because I’ve got some bad news for you about what boats have been carrying around for a very long time
luthis@lemmy.nz 11 months ago
Not sure why the downvotes, it’s clear as pigshit to me too.