Solar underperforms

[blackeagle603]

I'm out on my paddle board in marinas and anchorages around San Diego and Coronado. I see a lot of wind generators as well.

Like Npr suggests, but with a wind generator as well. One is none, 2 is one... Belt, suspenders, rope, duct tape.

[Netpackrat]

Yeah the channel I mentioned (Delos) has a couple of wind generators, along with a permanently mounted diesel generator and lots of solar. With a big enough boat you've got the space to have plenty of options for power. A few years ago when they were crossing the Indian ocean they even dragged a towed generator due to some problem with another part of their charging system. From what I remember, they usually only run the genset when they need enough power to operate their dive compressor or water maker.

[BDK]

TMK, most of the serious yachts these days, have Z pods. Lets them have one engine, and a large generator, and still have the redundancy of 2 engines. Significantly reduces their fuel usage. Z pods, of course also greatly improve the maneuverability.

I see some sailing yachts with the same set up.

[Captain Wheelgun]

Some of the ships in the story I’m writing are Diesel-electric, with multiple generators and motors, but at a mid-1930s tech level. I’m thinking about having them use lead-acid batteries as part of their ballast, for emergency power.

[Netpackrat]

TMK, most of the serious yachts these days, have Z pods. Lets them have one engine, and a large generator, and still have the redundancy of 2 engines. Significantly reduces their fuel usage. Z pods, of course also greatly improve the maneuverability.

I see some sailing yachts with the same set up.

You're probably not going to see anything like that on the size or price range of boats that I am talking about though. Bow thrusters on some of the larger ones, but that's about it.

[blackeagle603]

Factbox: Electric-vehicle batteries: major players and their expansion plans

SEOUL, Oct 22 (Reuters) - The global auto industry's shift to electric vehicles (EVs) has spurred an expansion race among battery makers and led to a growing skills shortage. read more

Global EV sales, estimated at 2.5 million vehicles in 2020, is forecast to grow more than 12-fold to 31.1 million by 2030 and account for nearly a third of new vehicle sales, according to consulting firm Deloitte.

Here are major players' expansion plans in key EV markets of China, the United States and Europe.

RTWT

[HTRN]

TMK, most of the serious yachts these days, have Z pods. Lets them have one engine, and a large generator, and still have the redundancy of 2 engines. Significantly reduces their fuel usage. Z pods, of course also greatly improve the maneuverability.

Basically anything bigger than 50 feet, with the exception of gofast boats, is at least offering a pod option ..

They make maneuvering big boats vastly easier, especially combined with bow thrusters. What they did don't tell you is they cost vastly more than a traditional inboard setup, both to install, and to repair. They also need deeper water as the pod hangs much farther down than an inboard prop.