French motor launch maker to use Toyota’s hydrogen fuel cell
Hynova Yachts will adapt Toyota’s car-based fuel cell technology to its line of luxury launchesFrench luxury motor launch maker Hynova will start to equip versions of its Hynova 40 dayboat with hydrogen fuel cell technology lifted from Toyota’s Mirai fuel cell road car.
The electric drivetrain – the fuel cell combines hydrogen with atmospheric oxygen to create water and electricity – will be fitted to the Hynova 40, making it the first production model in the world to use the technology.
The electric boat range will also tap into the development work done for the Energy Observer, an ambitious bid to build a powered motor yacht that can circumnavigate the world without using a drop of fossil fuel.
According to Hynova, the hull and design of the hydrogen-fuelled version of the 40 will “remain more standard” than the conventionally powered versions of the boat on which it is based.
The Hynova 40 will use two large tanks built aft to store 22.5 kilograms of hydrogen.
New fuel challenges
Hydrogen presents a few new challenges as to keep it in its liquid form, it needs to be stored at high pressure and very low temperature. It also doesn’t store very well – hydrogen atoms are so small that they can leak through the tanks meant to hold them in, usually up to half the fuel in a fortnight.
However, a hydrogen fuel cell can provide more range than an equivalent battery-powered boat and without the weight penalty of having to carry a large, heavy bank of batteries.
The Hynova 40 will be powered using two 150kW electric motors producing the equivalent of a combined 400hp. The 80kW Toyota-sourced fuel cell will feed the power it generates into a bank of two batteries that will in turn feed the shaft-turning motors.
Hynova claims this is enough performance to push the Hynova 40 to a top speed of 25 knots, with a cruising speed of 15 knots.
Related content:
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
