|
The series hybrid setups that the big ships use do have their advantages but I don't see them being important on a small boat. One of the big reasons those boats use that powertrain is space. An electric motor is a lot smaller and it means that they can put the engine somewhere remote without a drive shaft taking up lots of room down below. Also, electric motors give much better control since they can operate through a much wider range of rpm. The really big engines are basically fixed rpm engines so they often need controllable pitch propellers so that they can vary their thrust. The final reason that I know of is that the big ships often have several different generators and they can only run the number that they need for any given amount of power. I am sure there are other good points for them as well. To me, none of these points make particular sense for small cruising sailboats.
The idea of one engine on a cat and then using hydraulic or electric drives is interesting. It would add complexity but remove an engine. Your efficiency might drop a little. I am guessing that the average mechanic couldn't service a hybrid system.
|