Sealence, an Italian-designed electric hydrojet system, is now available in New Zealand through JP Ribs.
Sealence, an innovative Italian company, has developed a super-efficient propulsion system that combines electric power with a jet unit. But this is no ordinary jet unit where the water flow is redirected up into the jet unit via an intake in the hull. Like a conventional jet unit, DeepSpeed is designed to funnel water in the front end and accelerate it through a smaller nozzle at the back. However, it uses impeller blades on a hubless revolving outer ring turned by a powerful electric motor.
The DeepSpeed pod can be mounted directly through the hull (like an IPS) or on the transom like a sterndrive. The pod version can even be swivelled through 360° to provide reverse or sideways thrust. Their competitive advantage lies in having conceived fluid dynamic innovations that led Sealence to design a propulsion that didn’t exist before.
Italian engineer and CEO of Sealence, William Gobbo, has developed an entirely new electric propulsion system. Gobbo’s solution was to offer an electric waterjet that combines the motor and the propulsion system in a single unit. DeepSpeed has no gears, shafts or universal joint transferring the power from the engine to the drive, just a pair of wires taking current from the batteries to the motor.
Over recent years, Auckland based JP RIBS have been working closely with Sealence to develop the energy storage and propulsion system for a specialist project codenamed; Electric Wave. With a successful synergy, a partnership has grown, and JP RIBS are now distributors of Sealence for the South Pacific. The 40ft Electric Wave is currently under construction in Auckland with a pair of Sealence drives in a 10m Hybrid RIB and is due for launching mid 2023.
A radical new pod-shaped waterjet design, something that is more akin to aircraft, the Sealence Deep Speed is available in various sizes, ranging from the fixed 286hp (210kW) DeepSpeed 420 through to the variable DeepSpeed 1.3k with an output power of 1306hp (960kW).
Power comes from what Sealence calls their Hotel System (SHS), a self-contained fireproof powerbank in three sizes: 80, 160 and 320 kWh. SHS is designed to provide energy to your vessel for at least 12 hours in absolute silence with zero emissions. When the powerbank runs low, an innovative “Recharge System” restores it within 20 minutes without needing to connect to shore power.
Sealence’s longer-term goal is to offer a complete hybrid electric drivetrain package that includes a modular system of expandable lithium-ion batteries, solar panels, a diesel range-extender and a range of different DeepSpeed jets up to 540hp, all controlled by a single Smartbox. This will enable it to power a wide range of craft from 9m to 24m.
