NEW ZF ELECTRIC DRIVE SYSTEM

ZF is continuing to expand its portfolio of marine propulsion products with a fully electric system that can be combined with the company’s Steerable Pod Propulsion system (SPP).

The new drive system is emission and noise free and the speed of the motor is controllable.

The electric motor has a maximum output of 125kW.

ZF is currently testing the electric propulsion concept with the system installed on an innovation vessel that has been cruising Lake Garda since September 2019.

“When we developed this high-end induction motor we were able to draw on synergy effects within the ZF Group,” Massimiliano Cotterchio, head of sales pleasure craft product line explained. “We use the same platform and many of the same system components our company already uses successfully and widely in other applications.”

The prototype has a 60kWh lithium-ion battery and has been achieving an average sustained speed of 7 knots (13 km/h) with a range of around 30 nautical miles (55.5 km). The battery pack is positioned at the stern and is provided with a cooling system for best performance.