Published: September 28, 2010
International Battery to Energize One of the World's Largest Hybrid Electric Sailing Yachts
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - International Battery (www.internationalbattery.com),
a U.S. manufacturer, designer and developer of large-format lithium-ion
rechargeable cells, batteries and energy storage systems (ESS), today
announced it has partnered with Electric Marine Propulsion (EMP) to
build a hybrid power train for the world's largest plug-in,
hybrid-electric sailboats - a 60 foot Tag Yachts catamaran running on
wind-generated electricity stored in International Battery's lithium-ion
batteries.
International Battery and Electric Marine Propulsion partnered to build a hybrid power train for the world's largest plug-in, hybrid-electric sailboats - a 60 foot Tag Yachts catamaran running on wind-generated electricity stored in International Battery's lithium-ion batteries. (Photo: Business Wire)
Christened Tang at her September 21 launching, the carbon-fiber
speedster is undergoing tests at Tag facilities in St. Francis Bay,
South Africa. She'll set sail later this year to her owner in Florida
and will appear at the Miami sailboat show in February.
"This is a transformational combination of technologies," said Dave
Tether, CEO of Electric Marine Propulsion (EMP). "Our E Motion hybrid
system converts wind and solar energy into a practical power source for
boat motors and auxiliaries. And, International Battery's lithium cells
provide the lightweight, high-capacity storage that really lets us take
advantage of it."
The main renewable energy input to the large-format battery pack is
electricity regenerated by wind power as the boat's propellers spin in
the wake, under sail. The propellers turn the 18-kilowatt propulsion
motors, which automatically become generators and send electricity back
to the batteries.
"The initial thrust and response when engaging forward is vastly better
than anything experienced with standard diesel propulsion," said Tim van
der Steene, managing director of Tag Yachts. "It's quiet, and the power
is there instantly. It goes hand-in-hand with sailing, which is about
moving in harmony with nature, quietly, without polluting the
environment."
When there's not enough wind, twin 22-kilowatt diesel generators kick in
automatically for recharging, together or individually as needed. The
generators are 144-volt dc units that recharge the batteries directly
without the normal energy loss incurred through a charger.
The batteries also can be charged with a 144-volt charger that plugs
into shore power. The charger handles a wide range of voltages and
frequencies, a big advantage in out-of-the way ports with erratic
supplies of electricity.
"We're very excited to work with EMP to provide the energy storage for
their hybrid electric system in marine applications," said International
Battery's CEO, Ake Almgren. "Using our large-format lithium prismatic
cells as the building blocks, we can provide battery systems with high
energy density which means smaller footprints and lower weight. In
addition, because we use a unique, environmentally friendly, water-based
manufacturing process, our batteries will feel right at home storing
clean, renewable energy for this hybrid vessel and others to follow."
Tang's hybrid system includes twin E motion 18-kilowatt
permanent-magnet motors and International Battery's lithium cells
configured into a 144-volt battery pack. The pack's total energy
capacity is a hefty 46 kilowatt-hours. That's more than twice the usable
capacity of an 8D battery pack - the largest conventional size carried
with the E motion system. Yet the lithium pack weighs roughly 40 percent
less.
This extra energy capacity allows the sailing yacht to offer more luxury
(and power hungry) amenities to passengers including a 37 inch flat
screen TV, Bose entertainment system, LED lighting, cafe-size espresso
machine, two refrigerator-freezers, dishwasher, microwave, conventional
oven, gas or electrical burner top, washer-dryer, air-conditioning, and
a water maker.
To keep the battery cells working at optimum levels, International
Battery's battery management system (BMS) actively balances the battery
cells during charge and discharge. The BMS compares each individual cell
and diverts current to or from the cells to bring all cells to an equal
level.
The luxury hybrid powered yacht will sail across the Atlantic to its
owner and make an appearance in a U.S. boat show later this year. In
addition, Dave Tether, the CEO of Electric Marine Propulsion (EMP) will
be presenting "Electric-Powering Options" at the International Boat
Builders' Exhibit & Conference (IBEX), September 28-30 in Louisville,
Kentucky.
For more information on International Battery's advanced technology
batteries, please visit: www.internationalbattery.com
or call (610) 366-3925.
About Electric Marine Propulsion
Electric Marine Propulsion, LLC (http://www.electricmarinepropulsion.org/Index.html)
was founded by David E. Tether, who has been designing and building
electric propulsion systems since 1994. Doing business as E motion
Hybrids, the company develops and commercializes hybrid electric
propulsion technology for boats to enable more economical, efficient and
environmentally sound conversion of energy to mechanical power.
About Tag Yachts
TAG yachts (www.tagyachts.com)
was established in March 2007 by like-minded people with a passion for
sailing and building high performance cruising catamarans. We have
established Tag Yachts as a forward thinking company, focused on
developing the next generation cruising catamaran. We have engaged the
top catamaran designer and put together a team of professionals with
complimentary talents to take TAG Yachts into the future.
About International Battery
Headquartered in Allentown, Pa., International Battery (www.internationalbattery.com)
is a U.S. manufacturer, designer, and developer of large-format
lithium-ion rechargeable cells and batteries for use in a wide range of
transportation, industrial, electric utility, smart grid and military
applications, employing a uniquely environmentally friendly
manufacturing process.
In addition to historical information, this release may contain
forward-looking statements. International Battery may, from
time-to-time, make written or oral forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such
statements encompass International Battery's beliefs, expectations,
hopes or intentions regarding future events. Words such as "expects,"
"intends," "believes," "anticipates," "should," "likely" and similar
expressions identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking
statements included in this release are made as of the date hereof and
are based on information available to International Battery as of such
date. International Battery assumes no obligation to update any
forward-looking statement. Actual results may vary, and may vary
materially, from those anticipated, estimated, projected or expected for
a number of reasons.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6445632&lang=en
Jennings & Associates Communications, Inc.
PJ Jennings,
760-431-7466
pj@jandacommunications.com
www.jandacommunications.com
Copyright © 2012, Business Wire, Inc., All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2012, NewsBlaze,
Daily News
Search News
