Marine

Hybrid-electric Tag 60 yacht hits the water

Hybrid-electric Tag 60 yacht hits the water
Tang in St Francis Bay, South Africa
Tang in St Francis Bay, South Africa
View 10 Images
CAD image of Tag 60 under sail
1/10
CAD image of Tag 60 under sail
CAD image of Tag 60 at speed
2/10
CAD image of Tag 60 at speed
Tang's hull heads to the paint shop
3/10
Tang's hull heads to the paint shop
Tag employees dwarfed by Tang's hull
4/10
Tag employees dwarfed by Tang's hull
Tang's is powered by two 18 kW motors
5/10
Tang's is powered by two 18 kW motors
Tang's lithium batteries include 25.6 voltmodules for house 24 v system and electricdinghy and 28.8 v modules in two parallel23 kw strings for the main 144 v pack
6/10
Tang's lithium batteries include 25.6 voltmodules for house 24 v system and electricdinghy and 28.8 v modules in two parallel23 kw strings for the main 144 v pack
Tang is prepared for launch
7/10
Tang is prepared for launch
Tang prepared for launch
8/10
Tang prepared for launch
Tang in St Francis Bay, South Africa
9/10
Tang in St Francis Bay, South Africa
CAD image of Tag 60 interior
10/10
CAD image of Tag 60 interior
View gallery - 10 images

Vehicles of the wheeled variety aren’t the only ones going green. U.S. companies International Battery and Electric Marine Propulsion (EMP) are partnering up to build a hybrid power train for the world’s largest plug-in, hybrid electric boats and yachts. The partnership has resulted in one of the world’s largest plug-in hybrid sailboats, a Tag 60 catamaran christened Tang, hitting the water on September 21. It is a 60 ft (18m) carbon-fiber speedster that can be powered by the wind, even when the wind isn’t blowing.

Tang is powered by twin EMP E motion 18 kW permanent-magnet electric motors and International Battery lithium battery cells configured into a 144-volt battery pack providing a total energy capacity of 46 kWh. The boat’s main renewable energy input to the large-format battery pack is electricity regenerated by wind power as the boat’s propellers spin in the boat's wake when it is under sail. The propellers turn the 18-kW motors, which automatically become generators and send electricity back to the batteries. The companies say solar panels can also be set up to feed into the battery pack, but Tang is not equipped with them.

CAD image of Tag 60 at speed
CAD image of Tag 60 at speed

Tang is the first boat to have the new motors installed but assuming the system performs as expected, they’ll also be installed on the next Tag 60, which is already more than half built.

When there’s not enough wind, twin 22-kW diesel generators kick in, either together or individually as needed, to recharge the batteries. The generators are 144-volt dc units that recharge the batteries directly without the normal energy loss incurred through a charger.

The batteries can also be charged with a 144-volt charger that plugs into shore power and is designed to handle a wide range of voltages and frequencies – handy for those out-of-the-way ports with erratic electricity supplies.

“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.”

CAD image of Tag 60 under sail
CAD image of Tag 60 under sail

While the main power output from the battery pack goes to power the twin propulsion motors, it also sends power to a DC-AC inverter that makes 110/220-volt, 50/60 Hz alternating current for powering AC appliances, a DC-DC converter that steps down the voltage for 24-volt and 12-volt house power and a pair of 144 vdc hydraulic pumps. These pumps power a hydraulic system that operates the rotating wing mast, centerboards, sheet winches, anchor windlass, dinghy platform, controllable-pitch feathering propellers and other moving parts on the boat.

The battery pack’s 46 kWh capacity is more than twice the usable capacity of an 8D battery pack – the largest conventional size carried with the E motion system – yet weighs roughly 40 percent less.

International Battery CEO, Ake Almgren, says, “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.”

CAD image of Tag 60 interior
CAD image of Tag 60 interior

The extra energy capacity allows the yacht to include a variety of creature comforts, including a 37-inch TV, Bose entertainment system, LED lighting, café-size espresso machine, two refrigerator-freezers, microwave, conventional oven, gas or electrical burner top, washer-dryer, air-conditioning and a water maker.

The Tag 60 line was designed by New Zealand naval architect Greg Young and Tang is currently undergoing tests at Tag facilities in St. Francis Bay, South Africa. She’s due to set sail across the Atlantic to her owner in Florida later this year and will appear at the Miami Sailboat Show in February.

View gallery - 10 images
5 comments
5 comments
TheRogue1000
Quite gorgeous and the electrics sound delicious. I can never figure out, though, why so many cats have that totally blunt bow. Even a slight rake would make these boats look so much more elegant.
DanMar Dinsmore
The sailing Catamarans powered by regeneration and battery pack with generators is the future. We have been working on similar designs for years. The Plumb bows allow for more flotation when the bows are submerged and allow the bows to pierce the waves giving a steadier ride. Congratulations to Tag, on a job well done.
Roel
A rake would indeed look better, however these boats have a tendency to \"bury\" the lee pontoon when under sail. In combination with the high speed, the bow just dives in the waves, slowing the boat down and risking capsizing. By increasing the volume in the bow the diving tendency is diminished. A negative rake (fore to aft) does not contribute to a higher bow volume.
Joe Legeckis
What\'s the range on this? It looks like an awesome idea, but I wonder if the diesel/electric propulsion helps range? (baring that there\'s no wind. Obviously, with a good tail wind you can go as long as you want).
How long does it take to charge the batteries from (average) dock power? from diesel? How many gallons of diesel is a full charge? How many hours of run time will that give the motors?
Temojin
Great boat Darren,looks like we are getting close to the best mix of modern sailing & a power sauce with out the use of fossil fuels. We still have to get out of the hi-bred mentality of using both old & new technology. You now, still using diesel generators, It's the same as having computers & still having a paper filing system, it just doesn’t free us from arcade ideas.