Uses very little energy overall (self-charging when under sail).
Electric motors as main propulsion for boats is not new, in fact the very first propulsion for boats was electric, since it dates back to before the internal combustion engine. Electric motor based propulsion for leisure boats, especially sailboats, is rapidly emerging.
Presently the sailboat community is composed of almost all diesel engines. The competitive edge for electric propulsion is that it is environmentally friendly, no emissions or fumes, no fuel spills and no acoustical noise.
Performance characteristics also dictate that a certain horsepower size diesel engine can be replaced with an electric motor of approximately half the horsepower such that it is much lighter and takes up less space. This will also yield an overall higher efficiency.
A comparison to hybrid drives for cars can be made, even though there is no internal combustion engine needed here, because the operation always takes place at lower speeds where the electric motor is far superior in performance to a gas or diesel engine. This is exactly what the hybrid drives for cars take advantage of, operating on electric power at low speeds and the combustion engine at high speeds.
Everyone who has driven a gasoline engine car with manual transmission knows how easy it is to stall the engine when taking off. This will never happen with an electric motor. Simply because maximum torque is available at any speed.
Since the electric propulsion systems we are offering runs entirely on battery power, without the engine, other ways of charging the batteries must be used. This, however, is one of the other innovative characteristics of our drives system, it is capable of charging the batteries when operating under sail. In this situation, the propeller works as a source of power, a parallel to hydropower.
Other companies do offer electric drives for boats, but the only compatible system is mechanically and electrically much more complicated than the system we offer, and therefore, more than twice the cost.
Better Acceleration
Internal combustion engines idle at 700-800 rpm because that is typically the lowest speed they are capable of maintaining a rotation at all. In order to develop a considerable amount of torque, enough to drive the boat forward, the rpm must be 1500-2000 rpm. From then on the torque output increases with rpm up to 3600 rpm, which is the speed where maximum output torque, and therefore, power is achieved; but power does not drive the boat forward, torque does.
Our electric propulsion system has an idle speed of 0 rpm and develops full torque at any speed if it runs at full current. This is called constant torque operation (CT) and is unique to electrical motors. What does this mean? It means you have a very high torque available for acceleration.
Better Maneuvering
With the constant torque operation of this system, you can get up to a certain speed much quicker which also means increased maneuverability without radical motor rpm changes. This system is controlled by only one lever, the throttle. With this system it is possible to go directly from full speed in one direction to full speed in the opposite direction without any damage to the system, and even better, you will see immediate reaction.
Regeneration
The Thoosa system has the ability to regenerate (RG models) energy for charging the batteries. The energy used getting from dock to open water can be regained later when under sail. It typically only takes 10 – 15 minutes to get out there and you may stay out for hours. Assuming there is a good breeze, it is possible to regenerate when the electrical propulsion system is left on. This means that the system needs little or no charging later on. This is very helpful when staying at sea for an extended period of time. The subject of regeneration will be discussed in depth on the "Tech Corner" page.
No Need Warming Up
Diesel engines need to warm up. You have to start the engine and then wait 15-20 minutes while it warms up, all the while, you’re just itching to get out there. No wait with the electrical system, you turn it on and GO.
Reliability
Anyone who has ever gotten behind the wheel has had that moment of doubt, wondering if the engine will turn over and start. Internal combustion engines are very complicated machines, and the more parts they are made up of, the more can go wrong.
This inconvenience disappears with electric propulsion. With our system, you turn the key and you’re ready to go. Every time. Since there are very few parts to these drives, there is not a whole lot that can got wrong and the reliability increases greatly.
No Fuel Costs
With the Thoosa regenerative electric propulsion system, you’ll never have to stop at the fuel dock. You can zip out to sea while other sailors have to stop to gas up. Imagine the money you’ll save in the long run.
No harmful emissions
Well, no emissions at all!
No fuel spillage
That goes for when you refuel as well as when you are under power and unburned fuel is led through the exhaust directly into the water. Another aspect is the internal spillage of fuel from leaks which ends up in the bilge. Now it becomes a safety issue, especially with gasoline, when you have an explosive substance next to an electric bilge pump.
No fumes
(Well, actually, no emissions, period!) I know that it always bothered me when I started up my diesel and a big cloud of nauseating smoke emerged from the stern, engulfing the entire boat. I felt bad for my neighbors as well, and, of course below there was always the smell of diesel.
No fossil fuel dependency
In this day and age, this is a subject that is discussed daily, with good reason, since demand and prices are increasing and reserves are decreasing.
Uses very little energy overall
The Thoosa electric propulsion system (RG) is self-charging when under sail.
Virtually Silent
Imagine being in the middle of some tricky maneuvering approaching the dock and not having to shout over the dull roar of the standard diesel engine. You’d be able to talk and be able to hear what is going on, which all make things a lot safer and a lot more pleasant. Furthermore, the electric motor is so well balanced that there is no vibration at all. So whether you are motoring or regenerating there is no noise or shuddering. Absolutely quiet!
Low Maintenance
No oil changes in engine or gearbox. No fuel or oil filters to be concerned about. No foreign elements clogging up fuel lines. No mechanical connections or cables to be worried about failing at the moment where you definitely do not want it to happen. All that is required is that the belt and the motor brushes get checked once in a while (once a year). The belt can last for several years, but it is recommended to change belt every three years.
Clean Engine Room
With the Thoosa electric propulsion system, dirty diesel engines are a thing of the past. Since it requires very little attention and there are no oily fluids involved, you’ll never have to walk around with dirty hands. Your engine room will be neat and oil free. Also, think of all the room you’ll save since the bulky diesel engine will be swapped out for the much more space saving Thoosa.
Easy To Install:
The Thoosa electric propulsion system has less weight and volume than your typical diesel engine so it is much easier to install. This may not seem like a major point, but there are certain things that become possible with this system. It becomes easier to install because no component weighs more than 30 pounds (not counting the batteries). Since very little heat is created as a benefit of the high system efficiency, the engine room can be made smaller. Even though the electric system takes up less space than the diesel or gasoline engine, the space occupied by the exhaust system and the cooling water intake can now be utilized for other purposes.
