Silent is launching a new line of performance boats that will capitalize on its expertise in electric propulsion. Silent Speed 28 will match the futuristic looks of the Silent range with blistering pace and superyacht finish. With foil assistance and embedded solar cells on the hardtop, it is ideally suited as a superyacht tender or a fun boat that can be easily trailered.
The original concept of the new model was developed by eD-TEC. Twin 100kW eD-QDrive electric motors are the heart of this 8.6m rigid inflatable boat. These make it capable of eye-watering, hair-missing speeds in excess of 60 knots for short bursts. The boat is equipped with lithium-ion batteries (LiFePO4) storing around 100kWh of energy. This allows it to cover more than 70 miles at cruising speed, which is an exhilarating 30 knots.
“With 18 years of experience in designing and building solar-powered catamarans, we were hungry to push the boundaries again,” said Michael Köhler, Silent Group Founder and CEO. “The Silent Speed 28 has been developed in cooperation with Michael Jost (CEO & Founder of eD-Tec, former Head of Group Strategy Product & CSO of Volkswagen Brand) and his team. Our combined know-how coupled with continuing technological advances have made it possible to develop a model line that combines spectacular performance with impressive range.”
The project marks the start of a strategic partnership between the Silent Group and eD-TEC. The eD-Qdrive 1 powers the Silent Speed 28 to a top speed of more than 60 knots, while operating in virtual silence. The power unit is developed to offer maximum performance and safety whilst ensuring low maintenance.
In hull shape, the Silent Speed 28 most closely resembles a catamaran, with two narrow hulls in the water and a broad, blunt bow above the waterline. The structure seems almost to float, as it is balanced delicately on narrow pillars framing the windscreen and an elegant Y-shaped support aft. Built in carbon fiber, it is lightweight and incredibly robust. Solar cells carpet the upper surface of the hard top, currently generating up to 704W of power. It is more than enough to maintain the battery that supplies all the onboard systems.
Recharging the main propulsion battery naturally requires a dedicated charging point. The onboard charger can handle 150kW DC, which fully recharges the battery in around 40 minutes. AC charging is possible at up to 22kW. From a Silent yacht, the battery of the Silent Speed 28 can be recharged with the 22.5kW DC wallbox from 30% to 80% in 2 hours. Port infrastructure varies, but even a standard three-phase charger could do the same job in some 4 hours.
The first hull launches will be in October this year.
Silent-Yachts is producing the world’s first fully solar-sustainable oceangoing production catamaran yachts. They are powered exclusively by solar energy and capable of cruising up to 100 miles per day. In 2009, founders Heike and Michael Köhler, who have spent 6,000 days cruising more than 75,000 miles all around the world, launched the Solarwave 46, the first fully self-sufficient blue-water catamaran after years of testing solar-powered propulsion, and they have been building boats ever since.
Credits: Silent-Yachts