Quote:
Originally Posted by Stumble
So if we want to reasonably extend the range, we have to put a pretty large generator on board, which is going to require adding back the fuel tanks, thru-hulls, ect that we avoided with the electric drive in the first place. How big of a generator? Figure 15kw would be sized to the engine. |
If you were referring to installation in a power cruiser, you might be right.. but for a yacht that's not actually true. For a hybrid installation on your average Bene 31 (generator/batteries/electric motor) the generator could be 2/3-3/4 the size of the electric motor depending upon the sort of cruising you do.
No-one has ever suggested you could do away without
fuel tanks, thru-hulls, etc. (you still need the thru hulls for cooling most electric drives anyway) but it's easy to forget that, either under sail or on the hook without the motor running, a 10kW generator is going to recharge the batteries mighty quickly! ..and give you plenty of AC power (enough to run a small house!) whenever you want it.