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| Update: HYMAR progress, new products, no booth at Annapolis, IBEX |
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| September 21, 2009 |
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News from Electric Marine Propulsion has been scarce lately, but the company has been extremely busy with the HYMAR project for the European Union and with new product developments for the E motion hybrid system.
"We've spent a lot of time meeting with our European partners across the continent," says EMP CEO Dave Tether. "The travel schedule has been grueling, but we've gotten the project off to a great start."
Tether and marine expert and author Nigel Calder, co-developer of the HYMAR project, have completed the first round of HYMAR testing on Calder's Malo 46, Nada, in Sweden. Calder will present initial test results and an overview of the project at the upcoming IBEX 2009 in Miami Oct. 12-14.
The initial results show that E motion hybrid-electric propulsion with renewable inputs to a bank of storage batteries is superior to conventional diesel propulsion as well as to diesel-electric direct drive without intervening battery storage.
"This has always been our basic principle," Tether says, "but for the HYMAR project we needed detailed baseline data to compare our system with. Now we'll be able to cite specific data-based efficiency improvements with each refinement we add to our system."
Plans for the next round of testing are to pull the Volvo 75 hp diesel propulsion engine over the winter and install a more advanced electric motor and generator.
Although Tether and Calder will both attend IBEX and the Oct. 8-12 Annapolis sailboat show, EMP will not host a display booth with the E motion system at either venue. "There simply hasn't been time to prepare," Tether says. "Plus the global recession makes this a good time to concentrate on refining our system. But we'll be available for discussion at both shows."
System refinements now in the works at EMP include new and larger motors, a diesel DC generator under our own brand name and an integrated charger/cross-charger/inverter that offers more efficient operation and a much more compact installation.
New product announcements and news about ongoing installations can be expected soon.
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