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Torqeedo News

14 Nov 2022

Torqeedo Opens New HQ and Production Facilities

(Photo: Torqeedo)

Marine electric drives manufacturer Torqeedo GmbH celebrated the grand opening of a brand-new 8,300 m2 building near Munich where all company activities, including research, development, and production, will now take place.Fabian Bez, Torqeedo's chief executive officer, said, Whether by road, rail, air or water, sustainable forms of propulsion are needed to achieve the climate targets. In the transport sector, in particular, there is still a lot to be done. As Torqeedo, we recognized this trend early on and developed battery-electric drives for watercraft.

20 Jun 2022

Berlin's 1990s-vintage Tour Boat is 'Electrified' with Torqeedo

Image copyright Tim Marcour, courtesy Torqeedo

Oranje Nassau, a 20-m, 55-passenger sightseeing boat and water taxi operating on Berlin’s urban waterways was recently put back into service after replacing its diesel engine with a fully integrated all-electric propulsion system by Torqeedo.The Torqeedo Deep Blue 50i electric drive is powered by three Deep Blue batteries with 120 kWh capacity which provide energy for a full eight-hour day at operating speeds, recharging from shorepower connections overnight at dockside.Buoyed by the performance of the electrified Oranje Nassau…

23 Feb 2022

Kiel's Future includes Autonomous, Electric Water Taxis

"WaveLab" rendering. Image credit GebrĂĽder Friedrich Shipyard

“Wavelab” will be an advanced testbed for sustainable urban mobility technologiesTorqeedo won a contract to supply a complete electric drive train for an autonomous boat in the German city of Kiel. Dubbed “Wavelab”, the electric vessel will serve as a research platform for the “Clean Autonomous Public Transport Network” (CAPTN) initiative in Kiel. The program aims to create the infrastructure for an integrated inner-city mobility network based on multiple modes of transport on…

18 Nov 2021

Leading the Charge

Crowley’s new eWolf will be the first all-electric tugboat in the U.S. (Image: Crowley)

Alternatives to fossil fuels are emerging throughout the maritime universe, and vessels working in U.S. rivers, waterways and harbors are at the cusp on this trend. While the alternative fuels spectrum is wide, battery power and electrification—a technology that has seen a decade of shipboard applications already—is particularly suited for smaller vessels.Crowley Maritime Corp will be taking delivery of a completely electric tugboat, dubbed eWolf; the boat- which will include kit for advanced vessel control tied to an electric propulsion system from ABB…

01 Jul 2021

Torqeedo Breaks Ground on New HQ

Kerstin Schreyer tests out the best-selling Travel 1103 at the new Torqeedo headquarters on the Air Tech Campus. Also pictured, from left to right: Michael Kiessling, Dr. Michael Rummel, Dr. Ralf Plieninger and Michael Wellenzohn. (Photo: Torqeedo)

Electric drives manufacturer  announced it has broken ground on its new headquarters and production facilities in the Munich metro area on Wednesday.Construction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2022, and the site will consist of 3,720 square meters of office space, with a mix of co-working spaces and on-site offices, 4,800 square meters of warehouse, production, and research and development area.Dr. Ralf Plieninger, managing director of Torqeedo, said, "The new facilities will allow direct contact and exchange between various departments.

05 Mar 2021

Torqeedo Sets Up Direct Distribution in Norway

(Image: Torqeedo)

Electric propulsion and hybrid drives manufacturer Torqeedo said it ha established direct distribution in Norway to address the growing market for its systems in the region.Norway has a long tradition of seafaring and is a world maritime center for shipping, shipyards and maritime infrastructure, commercial fishing, offshore oil/gas, ferries, pleasure boats and a rapidly growing offshore wind industry.“Norway is a world leader in the movement toward electrification of land and water transportation…

03 Feb 2021

Torqeedo Names Bucci Senior Director for Business Development in N. America

Patrick Bucci (Photo: Torqeedo)

Torqeedo, Inc. said it has appointed marine industry sales executive Patrick Bucci as senior director for business development for its electric and hybrid propulsion systems.Bucci will be responsible for driving sales growth for Torqeedo’s project sales segment in North America, focusing on recreational, commercial and government opportunities primarily for the Deep Blue product line. He will work with naval architects, marine engineers, shipyards and end-users, along with the Torqeedo engineering team…

05 Jan 2021

RIBs: Turn Up the Power

MetalCraft Marine recently delivered to Department of Natural Resources Police (Photo: Metal Craft Marine)

However readers might define “normal”, 2020 was anything but. But the business of rigid inflatable boats (RIB) has been going at full throttle.Matthew Velluto, Director of Business Development and Marketing at RIBCRAFT USA, based in Marblehead, Mass., described a business moving steadily ahead, though it’s had to weave and bob at times during 2020. “We’ve been able to stay open throughout 2020, with no disruptions on our side,” though he acknowledged hiccups further down in the company’s supply chain. He explains that the business was deemed to be “essential”.

04 Dec 2020

Thailand's First Electric Ferry Fleet Enters Service

(Photo: Torqeedo)

Thailand's first fleet of electric commuter ferries was placed into service last week by the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority (BMA), bringing clean emissions-free passenger transport to one of the world's most congested cities. Seven new vessels joined the first test boat, which has been successfully transporting Bangkok residents since 2018.The 30-passenger, zero-emission water taxis are part of a fleet operated by BMA's Enterprise Krungthep Thanakom Company (KT BMA), which operates on a five-kilometer route daily…

14 Aug 2020

Torqeedo Drives Toward Marine Electromobility

A 14-meter launch placed into service last year by the Swedish Sea Rescue Society has parallel diesel and electric drives consisting of twin 650 hp diesels with waterjets and dual Torqeedo Deep Blue 50 kW electric motors with 10 kWh Deep Blue lithium batteries. (Photo: Torqeedo)

The future is painted bright for companies dealing in hybrid and electric marine propulsion, as vessel owners and operators pursue cleaner technologies to comply with ever-stricter environmental regulations while also seeking ways to improve their bottom line.Case in point is Germany-based electric drives manufacturer Torqeedo, which has to date delivered more than 100,000 electric propulsion products for a wide range of recreational and commercial customers.The hybrid/electric market is one that’s ripe for growth, says Dr. Ralf Plieninger, COO and CTO, Torqeedo.

22 Jul 2020

Tech File: Hybrid-Electric Propulsion for Crew-less Vessels

Image: XOCEAN/Torqueedo

The move to autonomy on the world's waterways is undeniable, with the direction clear, the pace hazy. What is clear is the need for reliable, fuel efficient propulsion, and last month Torqueedo announced a deal to provide hybrid-electric propulsion systems to power XOCEAN’s XO-450 USV, a custom-designed composite wave-piercing catamaran about the length of a typical automobile.XOCEAN is embarked on a mission to to transform the way subsea data is collected, and the three-year…

03 Mar 2020

Hybrid Hydrographic Boat Delivered in France

Photo: Torqeedo

French builder Alumarine Shipyard has delivered a new hydrographic survey boat to the Port of La Rochelle.The eight-meter aluminum vessel, dubbed Cassiopée, is powered by a dual electric/diesel propulsion system. The newbuild is designed to transit at 20-25 knots under diesel power between the home port and the acquisition area, then shift to the electric outboards while performing scans of the seafloor.Electric propulsion and hybrid drives manufacturer Torqeedo said it worked closely with the naval architect and shipyard to specify…

11 Feb 2020

Capbreton's All-Electric Passenger Ferry

Photo courtesy of Torqeedo

Capbreton is turning to green technologies to reduce pollution of its air and waterways. The popular holiday destination on the Atlantic coast of France saw its first all-electric passenger ferry go into service in July 2019, replacing an older diesel-burning vessel.The 35-passenger aluminium vessel, called e-Boucarot, is powered by an integrated electric propulsion system developed by Torqeedo. It consists of two 10 kW electric outboards and four 48V 5 kWh lithium batteries with…

15 Jan 2020

Torqeedo Hires Engelmann as Sales VP

Jochen Engelmann (Photo: Torqeedo)

Torqeedo announced it has appointed Jochen Engelmann as vice-president sales for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), effective January 1.In this position, Engelmann will have responsibility for expanding sales and driving the company’s growth across the EMEA region for Torqeedo’s marine electromobility systems.Engelmann comes to Torqeedo from Volvo Penta, where he was head of sales, central Europe for the industrial engine division. Prior to joining Volvo Penta, he worked…

16 Apr 2019

World's First: Torqeedo Powers Electric Freefall Lifeboat

The German manufacturer of electric outboards Torqeedo provided the integrated propulsion system for the world’s first electric-powered freefall lifeboat, which is being built by the Dutch builder Verhoef.The vessel recently passed its final drop tests, making it the first fully functional electric lifeboat in the world, said a press release from the company.The first of the new Verhoef aluminium 32-passenger lifeboats will be deployed on an offshore platform in the new Valhall Flank West oilfield project in Norway. The contract includes an option for similar lifeboats in the future.Verhoef and Torqeedo engineers have developed and tested a fully integrated emission-free propulsion system consisting of a 50 kW…

02 Apr 2019

Torqeedo's Propulsion for VIKING LifeCraft

Photo courtesy of Torqeedo

Torqeedo  developed a specialized high-thrust electric propulsion system for VIKING’s revolutionary new LifeCraft survival craft, which are designed to speed safe evacuation of hundreds of passengers from ships at sea.The 203-passenger LifeCraft is a motorized inflatable vessel designed to deploy from a shipboard storage/launch station. Passengers board the boats through escape chutes. Once each boat is fully loaded, the crew maneuvers it to a safe standoff distance from the ship…

30 Nov 2018

Torqeedo Powers Thailand's First All-Electric Passenger Ferry

Photo courtesy of Torqeedo

Thailand’s first all-electric commuter ferry was recently placed into service by the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority (BMA), powered by Torqeedo. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha celebrated the launch, giving his symbolic approval to the city’s efforts to ease congestion and improve air quality through investments in green transportation. The Prime Minister commuted by skytrain, subway and foot through Bangkok’s crowded streets, before ending his mixed-mode commute with a trip aboard the emission-free passenger ferry.The 47.5-ft fiberglass vessel was repowered by MariArt Shipyard…

02 Aug 2018

Powered by China, Deutz Earnings Surge 37%

In its interim report for the first half of 2018, engine maker DEUTZ AG reports that in the first half new orders surged nearly 37 percent to €1.096 billion. Unit sales in the first half of 2018 came to 105,201, which included 6,345 electric motors sold under the Torqeedo brand. This was an increase of 32.2 per cent on the number of engines sold in the prior year period (H1 2017: unit sales of 75,599). Revenue amounted to €877.6 million, which was 19.5 percent higher than the €734.5 million generated in the first half of last year. DEUTZ also saw a further double-digit percentage increase in revenue in the second quarter of 2018, relative to both the first quarter of the current year and the second quarter of 2017.While the company saw orders and revenue surge…

23 Jul 2018

Torqeedo Powers Electric Passenger Vessels

Photo: Torqeedo

Torqeedo is supplying electric propulsion systems for a fleet of 15 new passenger excursion boats recently delivered to Vinpearl’s newest resort development at Hoi An, Vietnam.The nine-meter FRP displacement craft, built by Song Lo Shipbuilding in Nha Trang, are powered by Torqeedo Deep Blue 80 inboard electric motors with BMW i3 lithium batteries. “We are very happy with the performance of the Deep Blue system for these boats,” said Nguyen Van Thanh, Director of Song Lo Shipbuilding Company. “They are very quiet and provide a smooth ride.

03 Apr 2018

Torqeedo Powers Electric Workboat Fleet in China

Torqeedo Suzhou River Cleaning (Photo: Torqeedo)

The City of Suzhou in eastern China has deployed a fleet of electric workboats powered by Torqeedo motors as part of a program to clean up its canals and waterways. The ancient city of Suzhou, located in Jiangsu Province near Shanghai, is home to more than 10 million people. Often called the “Venice of the East” the 2,500 year old city is noted for its many canals, rivers, lakes, ancient stone bridges, pagodas and gardens. Suzhou Creek, which flows through the city to Shanghai, was at one time said to be the most contaminated waterway in China, filled with sewage and garbage.

06 Feb 2018

Torqeedo Partners with Sentinel Marine Solutions and WhisperPower

Photo: Sentinel Boat Monitors

Torqeedo has announced strategic agreements to integrate Sentinel Boat Monitors and WhisperPower smart power generation systems into its electric boat propulsion product offerings. The announcements were made in a press conference at the Dusseldorf International Boat Show Jan. 23. The Sentinel Boat Monitors are now fully integrated with Torqeedo’s Cruise, Travel and Ultralight electric propulsion systems. The Sentinel app allows remote monitoring of the vessel’s location and onboard systems, and provides automatic alerts of any malfunctions and alarms.

02 Feb 2018

Electric & Hybrid Drives Are Gaining Steam on the Waterfront

Image: Torqeedo

Demand for electric mobility is sweeping across the globe, and it’s rapidly gaining traction in the marine industry. The electric mobility revolution is largely being driven by the land transportation sector. Industry statistics predict that electric vehicle sales will surpass combustion engine vehicles within the next 20 years. Many countries in Europe and Asia have already adopted aggressive deadlines to phase out sales of combustion-powered vehicles, and some cities such as London are planning to banish them from their roads entirely.

09 Oct 2017

Lake Assault River Barges Arrive in San Antonio

Each of the Lake Assault river barges on the San Antonio River Walk can be configured and modified in a range of floor plans to support touring, dining, commuting, entertaining, and other applications.  (Lake Assault Boats)

Lake Assault Boats a  manufacturer of purpose-built and mission-specific work boats, fireboats, and rescue vessels – recently delivered 24 of the 43 custom river barges purchased by the City of San Antonio, Texas. The custom boats are a vital and integral component of the vibrant San Antonio River Walk that lies one story below the city’s streets, hugging the San Antonio River and connecting retail stores, restaurants, office buildings, and major tourist attractions. The boats will serve as touring and dining vessels and also as water taxis.