Whitehaven embraces an electrified future

Whitehaven said the ability to offer an electric option on any one of the boats in its 12-model line-up placed it at the cutting edge of low-emissions cruising.

It has teamed up with US marine electric motor specialist e-Motion to offer the option of silent, emissions-free running across its entire model range.

According to Whitehaven production manager Ryan Hanson, hybrid technology was an option that the brand was exploring “because the future of yachting is heading that way”.

"It depends on what the client wants [either a traditional or hybrid drive system],” Hanson said.

“[Hybrid is] a premium option and short-term it's more expensive, but you save on running costs as time goes on.”

Hanson said the ability to combine an electric drive system with conventional engines had a lot of interest, with various systems now available on the market and new options emerging all the time.

“It's something we're seriously considering and taking the time to speak with owners about it because it has its advantages.”

As well as powering the screws, the bank of batteries that feeds a hybrid engine system can also be used to replace the onboard genset while the boat is at anchor and in hotel mode.

The e-Motion system, optimised for engines producing more than 300hp, is known as a parallel hybrid, meaning the electric motor sits in between the engine and the screws. When the electric motor is not being used to turn the propeller shaft it can act as a generator, feeding power back into its banks of batteries and storing it for later use.

The e-Motion system uses lightweight lithium-ion batteries that have been hardened for the marine environment. The batteries can last up to 6000 cycles, and with the average boat using between 150 and 200 cycles a year, they should last more than a decade before needing replacement – much longer than a traditional lead acid battery.

e-Motion says its parallel hybrid system is lighter, smaller, and more user-friendly than rival systems offered by its competitors.

Once fitted, the Whitehaven models that adopt it can gain up to 15 nautical miles of electric range before having to fire up the diesel engines to take over, or run for around four to five hours at trolling speeds. 

The electric propulsion system also brings benefits to long-haul passages.

“If we look at a typical motor yacht cruising at 10 knots and consuming 40-70 litres per hour, the extended range in diesel-electric mode increases by 20 per cent,” e-Motion claims.

“Therefore, a 52-metre megayacht will have the same environmental impact as two small 10-metre boats with twin 450hp diesel engines.”

Several other motor yacht brands offer hybrid, and even fully electric, versions of their boats to Australian customers.