Baltic Yachts is extending its partnership with electric drive manufacturer Molabo to integrate the company’s 48-volt electric motors across a wide range of onboard functions.
The Finnish builder has been working with Molabo for several years, adopting the company’s solutions for propulsion, hydraulic sail-handling systems, and energy generation on a number of boats.
Molabo’s ARIES motors can also be used to power deck equipment, keel, rudder, and trim-control actuators, or bow and stern thrusters and as such, the company has created the first RPM-controlled version of its ARIES drive for Baltic’s hydraulic electrification project.
“Electric-powered auxiliary systems are a natural upgrade for oceangoing yachts,” explained Kim Kolam, senior electrical engineer for Baltic Yachts.
Powering onboard amenities
“While sailing, the 48-volt motors allow us to operate essential systems while minimising engine and generator runtime, and the high-capacity battery bank provides plenty of storage to power onboard amenities while at anchor.”
Baltic has also used ARIES drives for low-voltage parallel hybrid systems for anchoring or harbour maneuvering, as well as generating renewable energy while under sail.
“Being able to apply just 200–500W of electric thrust to maintain momentum or optimise airflow opens up entirely new possibilities for sailors,” explained Andreas Baumgardt, Molabo’s head of marine ecosystems and applications.
“With up to 50kW of power available at just 48V, you can enhance performance and efficiency on even large sailing yachts.”
