Reducing pollution from boats by switching to electric motors • Hacker News Board

Re: Reducing pollution from boats by switching to electric motors

#11

Post by freerobby » Thu, Aug 08, 2019, 2:15 AM UTC

Accujack wrote: post #3

Unfortunately, like many vehicles electric boats are limited to new... no one offers retrofit parts, and it will take decades before enough of these trickle down to new owners for them to take the place of existing boats, even assuming the drives last that long. I'd convert my boat to electric in a heartbeat if I could retrofit the drive for a similar cost to a replacement engine/transmission... but that's still impo…

Doesn't meet "similar cost" criterion, but check out Torqeedo: https://www.torqeedo.com/us/en-us

Re: Reducing pollution from boats by switching to electric motors

#12

Post by TYPE_FASTER » Thu, Aug 08, 2019, 2:16 AM UTC

It’s really cool to see advancements in electric boat power. The Hinckley Dasher has dual inboard Torqeedo drive units. If you’re looking to retrofit something smaller, there’s a blog out there by a guy putting an electric outboard on a smaller Whaler.

Re: Reducing pollution from boats by switching to electric motors

#13

Post by Steltek » Thu, Aug 08, 2019, 2:21 AM UTC

Relatedly, here's a 2012 video of Jamie Hyneman talking about creating an electric outboard for Mythbusters for quiet operation while filming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EV2qq2-Lck

Pure makes a lot of the same claims about noise and performance. They seem to have upped the appearance though.

Re: Reducing pollution from boats by switching to electric motors

#14

Post by softgrow » Thu, Aug 08, 2019, 2:21 AM UTC

Its not just boats going electric with positive results. Electric chainsaws starting to appear on trial near me for emergency services dealing with fallen trees. Much less noise, no smell (two stroke) and recharges itself on the truck. Just need someone to invent a self cleaning and sharpening one :)

Re: Reducing pollution from boats by switching to electric motors

#15

Post by T3OU-736 » Thu, Aug 08, 2019, 2:21 AM UTC

notatoad wrote: post #7

personjerry wrote: post #6

My bicycle is infinite times better than an electric car but it doesn't really serve the same purpose does it?

They could. LA has been painting their streets white to combat the heat island effect, think how much more effective it would be to replace all their roads with canals!

I think LA is a fairly bad example - drought, desert earthquakes all conspire very much against that use case

Re: Reducing pollution from boats by switching to electric motors

#16

Post by dylan604 » Thu, Aug 08, 2019, 2:24 AM UTC

notatoad wrote: post #7

personjerry wrote: post #6

My bicycle is infinite times better than an electric car but it doesn't really serve the same purpose does it?

They could. LA has been painting their streets white to combat the heat island effect, think how much more effective it would be to replace all their roads with canals!

They may not have to wait long, nor do any replacing. Just let the ocean levels continue to rise, and flood the LA basin. Venice's canals will be useless, but downtown LA will be just about right ;-)

Re: Reducing pollution from boats by switching to electric motors

#17

Post by crazygringo » Thu, Aug 08, 2019, 2:25 AM UTC

I've always loved being on the water, but had a kind of instinctual revulsion at the gas usage, the fumes, the oil that leaks into the water, and the sheer noise from the engine -- like boating is about being with nature, but the gasoline aspect just ruins it for me.

I tried sailing, but even then you need a backup motor and to get in/out of the oil-soaked harbor. (And sailing is a lot of work.)

The idea of electric boats makes me actually interested in the idea of boating for the first time again... does anyone know if they leak oil just as much though?

Re: Reducing pollution from boats by switching to electric motors

#18

Post by dylan604 » Thu, Aug 08, 2019, 2:30 AM UTC

RickJWagner wrote: post #9

Maybe for commercial boats that are often in use. I live where there are quite a few sport fishermen, many have bass boats. But even the hardcore enthusiasts might go out a day or two a week, for a total of maybe 10 hours. The vast majority probably put less than 100 hours a year on the boats. So..... maybe big reduction in emissions, but only for a short while. The cars don't make the same reduction, but they're in…

On top of that, the bass boats are only on ICE powered engine while getting to their spots. Once there, they switch to electric powered trolling motors.

It's all of the ski boats and jet skis that are the annoyingly loud and high emission crafts. One thing that surprised me growing up is that most water craft do not have mufflers. They just exhaust directly into the water which muffles. I used to think how the fish must love that.

Re: Reducing pollution from boats by switching to electric motors

#19

Post by URSpider94 » Thu, Aug 08, 2019, 2:34 AM UTC

Accujack wrote: post #3

Unfortunately, like many vehicles electric boats are limited to new... no one offers retrofit parts, and it will take decades before enough of these trickle down to new owners for them to take the place of existing boats, even assuming the drives last that long. I'd convert my boat to electric in a heartbeat if I could retrofit the drive for a similar cost to a replacement engine/transmission... but that's still impo…

Torqueedo do offer a range of outboard and inboard motors that can be retrofitted into existing boats. https://www.torqeedo.com/us/en-us/products/inboards

Re: Reducing pollution from boats by switching to electric motors

#20

Post by Accujack » Thu, Aug 08, 2019, 2:36 AM UTC

URSpider94 wrote: post #19

Accujack wrote: post #3

Unfortunately, like many vehicles electric boats are limited to new... no one offers retrofit parts, and it will take decades before enough of these trickle down to new owners for them to take the place of existing boats, even assuming the drives last that long. I'd convert my boat to electric in a heartbeat if I could retrofit the drive for a similar cost to a replacement engine/transmission... but that's still impo…

Torqueedo do offer a range of outboard and inboard motors that can be retrofitted into existing boats. https://www.torqeedo.com/us/en-us/products/inboards

Only for tiny boats, though, and they're quite expensive.

My boat needs two 150kW plus engines to move at speed. I might be able to get by at displacement speed with two 50kW engines, but something that like isn't available, and neither is the needed battery pack (Li-Ion, lead is too heavy to work).