Electric propulsion specialist ePropulsion has unveiled a new energy management system at the Cannes Yachting Festival, designed to untangle the wiring and components that come with electrifying a modern cruising boat.
The system, called eCore, brings propulsion, batteries, power generation and onboard electrical loads together under one intelligent platform. For boatbuilders wrestling with multiple standalone components and extensive internal wiring, that's the pitch.
It's a timely problem to solve. As boats become increasingly electrified and owners expect greater comfort and capability onboard, juggling shore power, diesel generation, solar, hydrogeneration and electric propulsion alongside AC and DC loads can quickly turn into a complicated installation.
eCore is built around two main components. The first is eCore 96VDC, the main energy management unit, which controls the flow of power around the vessel. The second is an optional eCore AC module, which works alongside it to provide flexible management of both DC and AC power.
Together, the two components support the vessel's propulsion and onboard energy requirements. Connectivity allows system information to be monitored through compatible displays and navigation equipment, including third-party multifunction displays from Raymarine, Garmin and Simrad/B&G.
Scalability is a key design principle. Boatbuilders can start with the DC system for essential requirements, then expand the installation with eCore AC where additional onboard power management is needed.
Danny Tao, CEO of ePropulsion, said: "The electrification of boating is about much more than replacing a combustion engine with an electric motor. As boats become increasingly sophisticated, we need to think about how energy is generated, stored, distributed and used across the entire vessel."
"eCore has been developed to make that process simpler. By bringing propulsion and onboard energy management together into one intelligent ecosystem, we can give boatbuilders a more integrated solution while making energy management far easier and more intuitive for the people using the boat."
"Cannes is the ideal place for us to introduce eCore. It represents an important next step in ePropulsion's development, expanding our expertise in electric propulsion to provide a more complete approach to energy management onboard."
eCore also comes with advanced monitoring and intelligent load management. Power-saving and load-shedding capabilities help manage demand, while consumption monitoring and historical data give greater insight into onboard energy use.
Shipyards can specify customised HMI designs, and the system supports remote monitoring for advanced troubleshooting.
For boat owners, the result is simpler, more intuitive control of onboard energy, meaning less time thinking about available power and more time enjoying life onboard. For boatbuilders, eCore offers a scalable platform for integrating electric propulsion and energy management from a single technology provider, one system doing the work of many.
eCore is on display now at the ePropulsion stand, Power 113, at Cannes Yachting Festival.
