Today we’re in Starnberg. Germany where Torqeedo, a manufacturer of marine electric power, is making tremendous advance in performance, torque and battery life. 

Torqeedo Electric Motors: Germany

Founded in 2005, Torqeedo pioneered the field of water based electromobility. Today they are market leaders delivering clean, electric power to over 50 countries on 5 continents offering outboards, inboards, electric motors and hybrid drive systems ranging from 1 to 80 hp. 

Torqeedo’s business philosophy is simple… sustainability unites people all around the world. They believed electric motors would become increasingly important in the future due to global population growth, the growth of the middle class around the world, limited oil reserves and growing efforts to limit global warming. 

In contrast to combustion engines, Torqeedo drives do not discharge any exhaust into the water. There is no water contamination as a result of refueling. No oil enters the water from a leaking lubrication system. They have an exemplary carbon footprint. There is no smell, no noise. 

Superior German engineering has led to many industry achievements in electric propulsion. Torqeedo outboards deliver torque that is up to 20 times higher than conventional electric motors. Planetary gears used in the transmission are driven by brushless external rotor motors with rare earth magnets which deliver service lives up to 50,000 hours. Their propeller design took its cue from the commercial shipbuilding industry in order to take advantage of Torqeedo’s high-torque motor, optimizing this efficient propeller very effectively.

Last, but not least, is Torqeedo’s superior, proprietary battery technology. They make their own lithium batteries. They store significantly more energy than all other batteries, they maintain a high current – a major advantage for electric drive systems – they do not lose their charging capacity, they supply power reliably even in the cold and have no memory effect. They also provide many more cycles than lead-based batteries. They are completely waterproof as are all connections between the battery and motor. 

Think you know ohm’s law? Think again. A conversation with Torqeedo’s engineers will provide you with an education on energy densities, the squared dependence of cable power dissipation, electrochemical corrosion principles, and a host of topics guaranteed to lull you to sleep. But thank goodness for the techno geeks who live and breathe this stuff because they’ve engineered an electric boat motor unlike any other in the world, and they continue to make technological advancements that satisfy the boating community as well as mother nature. 

The 2016 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show runs from November 3rd – 7th at the Broward County Convention Center and Bahia Mar. All the brands featured in this four-part blog can be found at the Convention Center in the AquaZoneTM located at the entrance to the Sailfish Pavilion, and at Booth #’s 1013, 1014, 1021, 1022, 1025, and 1026 at Bahia Mar.