TORQEEDO TORQEEDO High-tech electric propulsion A rigorous focus on cutting-edge technology, R&D and new production processes, as well as optimizing performance, comfort, safety and economic features, has made one German supplier a key player in electric and hybrid marine technology WORDS: DR CHRISTOPH BALLIN hen Torqeedo’s founders, Dr Christoph Ballin and Dr Friedrich WBoebel, looked at solutions for electric propulsion systems for boats in 2004, they noted that existing products did not reflect the then state of technology, with the solutions coming from low-volume, high- price manufacturing starting points. This gap in the market prompted the creation of Torqeedo, a new player in the marine industry, focusing only on high-tech propulsion, combined with industrial R&D and manufacturing, to realize competitive price points while also providing revolutionary benefits. Despite being founded less than a decade ago, Torqeedo has already gathered critical global acclaim by being first to market with key innovations. For example, the company was the first to introduce brushless motors into marine propulsion. It was also the first to introduce lithium batteries to the marine industry on a broad scale and the first to integrate them into electric outboard designs. These critical breakthroughs, and many other high-tech innovations, have made Torqeedo one of the best-known brands in the field of marine electric propulsion. Located in Starnberg, near Munich, with sales offices in the USA, the UK, France and Spain, Torqeedo offers propulsion systems from 0.5kW through to 110kW, all developed according to the same ethos – superior technology with revolutionary benefits. 68 // October 2013 // Electric & Hybrid Marine Technology International TORQEEDO TORQEEDO battery chemistries vary in the way that they waterproofing, with all of the company’s propulsion system that defines state-of-the-art can react. In the early years of lithium batteries being fully waterproof according to technology, convenience and safety, along batteries, highly reactive materials like IP67, to prevent short circuits, and corrosion with competitive industrial price points. lithium-cobalt were offered on the market. of plugs or safety relevant electronics. Nowadays, safer battery chemistries like The Zodiac Milpro SRMN 600 rigid inflatable boat can be fitted with the Deep Blue propulsion system. LiFePo or LiNMC are commonplace. As such, Torqeedo lithium battery with safety cells, BMS, data 6 4 ports, water sensor, breathing valve and terminals These boats were originally built for military use so their it’s important to choose appropriate battery hulls are reinforced to take the maximum G forces that are chemistry in order to ensure maximum Systems engineering applied when fully laden and powered at maximum speed lithium battery safety. As a company, Torqeedo believes that The second focus to Torqeedo’s five-step performance is best enjoyed when it’s process centers upon the safe packaging of combined with convenience. As such, individual cells. As a company, Torqeedo uses Torqeedo’s systems allow for motors and 6 only so-called safety cells, which are welded batteries to be switched on and off, simply at steel cylinders equipped with multiple the push of a button. Products and hardware safety mechanisms. Alternative components can be designed to connect via packaging, such as foil-welded cells, offer a an electronic button, enhancing user reduced safety standard because they don’t friendliness. Motor information can be provide effective protection against internal married with battery data and GPS receiver 1 short circuits of the cells (exceptions are information to provide the user with foil-welded cells with ceramic separators, meaningful range forecasts. What’s more, which provide safe packaging but are waypoints can be integrated into the extremely rare on the market). onboard-computer and audible alarms warn Torqeedo’s headquarters is located [watts] via current x voltage; shaft power engineers using the very latest technologies The third focus area for Torqeedo is precise the driver when the battery gets low. These 1 in the Starnberg District, near Munich [watts] via torque x angular velocity; and for every component. This includes the latest and clean production processes at cell examples are just some of the noteworthy propulsive power [watts] via speed x thrust brushless motor designs with state-of-the-art manufacturer level. Cells with proper battery convenience system features embedded into Focus on propulsive power exerted onto the boat. electronic commutation; propeller calculation chemistry that are packed into the battery Torqeedo’s propulsion systems. When discussing the power rating of a boat Besides propulsive power, overall efficiency based on the highest standards, which are system correctly will ultimately not be safe if drive, kilowatt and horsepower outputs are is a key performance indicator for an electric mostly used in commercial shipping; and the production processes of the cell GPS-based range calculation, also for electric outboards 5 in the low power classes, features waterproof connectors critical aspects that need to be taken into propulsion system, mainly due to the fact that careful design matching of the motor, manufacturer are not extremely clean and and electronic communication between components consideration. Yet from Torqeedo’s electric propulsion systems often operate with electronics, gear and propeller in an effort to precise. As a result, Torqeedo recognizes this perspective, providing horsepower or kilowatt a limited power supply. Consequently, getting realize superior performance. critical fact and only uses cells produced by As mentioned earlier, Torqeedo’s products ratings is only one way to describe, analyze the most propulsive power (speed and range) renowned Japanese, Korean or USA range from 0.5kW to 55kW, and the latest and optimize boat drives. First and foremost out of a limited energy supply is paramount, Torqueedo powertrain components feature the very manufacturers. addition to the company’s product line is the latest technologies, carefully matached to one another for any power discussion, one needs to know and overall efficiency data provides exactly 3 The next focus area with regards to battery 55kW Deep Blue propulsion system. This where the power is being measured. For this performance criterion. This data is With tens of thousands of lithium batteries safety is incorporating an advanced battery technology is the world’s first production example, gasoline and diesel propulsion defined as propulsive power divided by input in the field since 2006, Torqeedo has become management system (BMS) with additional electric outboard product for the high power systems typically provide power ratings power and expressed in percent. a pioneer in developing lithium battery safety features. Unlike lead-based batteries, classes and since its introduction, it has measured at the propeller shaft – called shaft technology for electric propulsion. Improving lithium batteries generally need a BMS to received prestigious innovation awards from power. Providers of electric propulsion systems sometimes provide shaft power as a power rating, but sometimes input power is 2 3 also referred to within the industry, with the power being consumed by the electric motor. It is clear that shaft power says more about a propulsion system than input power. However, shaft power ratings do not express propeller losses. As propeller losses vary from 30% to 80% (depending on specific applications), the shaft power rating of a propulsion system is only a very rough indicator of the overall performance of a boat 4 5 drive – and it is vitally important that this fact is not overlooked. With this in mind, Torqeedo focuses on The overall efficiency of Torqueedo’s electric propulsion marine lithium batteries year after year since perform balancing and safety functions. If the global boating industry. 2 system is determined by dividing propulsive power by optimizing the propulsive power of a boat input power (left) and is expressed as a percentage (right) 2006, Torqeedo has created a very electronic components in the BMS fail, then Deep Blue is a fully integrated, high-power drive, such as the kinetic power exerted comprehensive protection and safety process the BMS can become problematic in terms of propulsion system that can be implemented from the boat drive onto the boat after all Unique powertrain and battery for marine lithium batteries on the market general safety. It is for this reason that into various boats with minimum design-in losses, with propeller losses also being taken engineering – bringing together performance, safety and Torqeedo insists that all safety-relevant effort, with its propulsive power being into account. For Torqeedo, superior propulsive power and comfort – three fundamental R&D aspects. components are duplicated within the system, equivalent to an 80hp gasoline outboard. Input power, shaft power and propulsive overall efficiency comes from extensive With regard to safety, Torqeedo follows an failsafe measures that are already standard in Deep Blue has undergone extensive power are all measured differently, however, in-house development that works extensive process that has five significant the automotive industry, air transport and development and considerable investment each can all be expressed in kilowatts or uncompromisingly toward optimizing focus areas, with the first being on safe medical battery technology.