Open up throttle. Sparkling waters of Lunenburg harbour race past. Waves spread in the broad wake behind the 32-foot boat and passengers hang on as it reaches 35 knots, powered by an electric motor. The aluminum boat can steam like this for hours. All metal, shiny and clean. The wheelhouse is full of windows, bright summer sun filling the cabin. With electric propulsion and a nimble hull it seems like a futuristic boat, but it's 20 years old.
Normally today's ride would make for an expensive demonstration, costing a lot to refuel. But the owners of this boat only have to plug it in.
ABCO originally built a boat for the Halifax Port Authority in 2004 called the Garrett Cotter. With twin inboard 370-hp diesel engines it could reach a top speed of 39 knots. It spent 20 years with the Halifax Port Authority and Halifax Regional Police patrolling the harbour before retiring.
But it wasn't done yet. "We ended up buying it back," says Colin Ross of ABCO, "after it sustained damage at one of the piers." In these days of green energy and forward thinking, boat builders at ABCO decided to see what it would take to electrify a vessel like the Garrett Cotter.
Within about a year, a new refitted boat was making waves at demonstrations and boat shows, most recently at the Sail Grand Prix event in Halifax and demonstrating the electric propulsion system and bi-directional charging technology along with partner Bluegrid.
"We didn't have the intention of putting an electric propulsion system in it at the time," explains Colin, "but we had the electric propulsion system show up...intending to build a boat around it, but to expedite things a little bit, decided that this [32-foot patrol boat] would be a really good candidate for trialing that propulsion system."
The old twin diesel engines were replaced. "Today we have a single electric motor with a standard Mercury Bravo 3 stern drive," says Colin, "and we'll do 38 knots with the system [limited] so performance-wise, top speed is pretty well on par with the original setup."
For comparison, the propulsion system in the Garett Cotter works as well as popular electric vehicles on the road. "The Ford F-150 Lightning extended rage version [for example]," mentions Colin, "spec for spec it's pretty well the same in terms of the battery capacity and the motor sizing."
The Evoy Hurricane system uses a 300 kilowatt (continuous) electric motor, equal to about 400 horsepower, and is capable of reaching a peak output of 600 kW, the same as an 800 hp motor, for short bursts of speed or to get planing quickly. There are two large 63 kilowatt-hour (kWh) batteries under the checkerplate, and a big inverter for DC power to feed the AC motor. Used carefully, the vessel can go for a full day on a single charge. The engine room is now spacious (not to mention odourless) and contains a layout similar yet different from the original engine.
"There is a ton of space" in the former engine room, says Colin, "the manufacturer has adopted an approach common in conventional engine setups where many components are integrated into a compact motor package."
The motor has a varied setup for cooling: one open-loop and two closed-loop systems. "The propulsion batteries are immersion-cooled," explains Colin, "using a non-conductive cooling fluid, the motor and onboard electronics are cooled using a water/glycol mix. Heat is removed from the system by a third cooling loop that circulates seawater through a heat exchanger located on the motor package."
The setup is safe too: "A lot of people ask, 'you have high voltage and salt water, is it safe?' The propulsions system manufacturer has carefully selected components and taken an approach to integration that focuses on safety in the maritime environment," says Colin, "the batteries, for example, have a significant level of built-in safety features and come with DNV approval for use in marine applications. This goes a long way when working with different certifying authorities and regulatory bodies."
ABCO's new old boat has stood up nicely through surf and weather. "We've tested the propulsion under various conditions over the last two years and it's stood up really well," says Colin.
If you spend any time near the water in Nova Scotia, you might be seeing this new electric powerhouse soon, and perhaps more like it. "The goal behind this boat is to be somewhat of a promotional tool," says Colin, "but also a working prototype for developing new technology and for actually dealing with a lot of the challenges that'll come up. I think Nova Scotia's going to bring a unique perspective to it."
To learn more about ABCO click here.
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