Posted by Brian on August 04, 2002 at 18:16:43:
In Reply to: electric drive vs big outboard posted by Frank U. Hollis on August 04, 2002 at 15:02:25:
: Can an electric drive motor deliver big speed on a high performance boat? If so, what are are the components of such a motor?
The problems with electric drive tend to be that for any amount of endurance, the battery system has to be so large that the weight precludes anything like "performance" as we are used to seeing it with internal combustion engines.
Also, electric motors of horsepowers comparable to performance internal combustion engines are so heavy and their electrical requirements so large that trying to run them self contained on a boat is a difficult proposition.
Having said all that, I think it would be really neat to see someone try to tackle those problems. Just imagine a boat that would jump on plane nearly silently! It might be possible in the personal watercraft arena...
Brian