on 3 Apr 2023
The ePropulsion-powered cat is the first from the Chinese sailboat builder
Chinese sailboat builder Far East Boats has announced the launch of a brand-new electric catamaran, the Fareast 42C, at this year’s China (Shanghai) International Boat Show.
The vessel is the first all-electric catamaran developed by Far East Boats, and the first mass-produced catamaran to be powered by an electric motor by Chinese electric outboard maker ePropulsion.
The Fareast 42C catamaran was designed by Simonis Voogd Design and features a spacious living area. It uses extra-long, built-in plexiglass portholes to allow passengers to enjoy panoramic views in the saloon and greater natural light in the cabin. The deck layout can be selected from a sports version or a charter version.
The catamaran measures 42 feet and is powered by a pair of ePropulsion 20 kW electric motors, which use lithium iron phosphate batteries. Up to four batteries can be connected, with a total capacity of 188.41 kWh. The maximum battery life can reach 20 hours, with a range of up to 100 nautical miles in pure electric propulsion mode. All batteries are equipped with an ePropulsion Battery Management System that the firms say can monitor the voltage and temperatures of individual batteries in real-time, as well as provide an automatic equalisation function.
In certain wind conditions, electric propulsion works with sail propulsion to achieve a maximum speed of more than 10 knots. The Fareast 42C comes equipped with a 20kW onboard battery charger and a portable 3kW battery charger to recharge the batteries, and its solar system provides complementary power to replenish the catamaran’s batteries.
“All-electric propulsion is the way of the future,” said Demolar Du, CEO of Far East Boats. “ePropulsion has long been the leader in reliable and efficient electric solutions, so when the time came to put this product together, they were the obvious choice as a partner. We believe sailors and eco-conscious boaters will get the absolute most out of our new catamaran.”
Danny Tao, co-founder and CEO of ePropulsion, adds: “This catamaran serves not only as a wonderful vessel for sailing enthusiasts, but also as a significant milestone of our integrated system solution.
“We have always prided ourselves on providing cutting-edge, quiet, clean, environmentally conscious propulsion, and this project furthers all of these goals. We look forward to collaborating on more projects like this in the immediate future.”
Inlate 2022, ePropulsion celebrated its 10th anniversary with the announcement of the expansion of its sales team, new facilities and by moving into new headquarters. The firm has also recently expanded with a new R&D centre in Shanghai.
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