Electric cars can no longer be ignored in the street scene, but the share of electric boats in the shipping industry is very low. That is why 20 students in Drimmelen are building a boat that sails electrically, generated from 16 kilos of hydrogen on board. “The maritime world is looking at alternatives to fossil fuels and they are really coming,” says Mandy Vermeijs of the Hydro Motion Team.
Armed with open laptops, the students of the Delft University of Technology walk back and forth in the shed of the Snoek hunting shed. Owner Huib Snoek is more than happy to offer the young researchers free accommodation. “I expect that sailing on hydrogen will become an opportunity to save energy and that this will be the future in shipping. Just like with cars and trucks.”
The technology works like this: hydrogen is converted into electricity via a fuel cell, which you can use to drive an electric motor. The only residual product is water, so there are no harmful exhaust gases. The technology is already being used sparingly in cars, trucks and buses. But due to a limited number of places where hydrogen can be refueled, this form of transport is not really getting off the ground yet.
“The boat almost flies over the water.”
With a special crane, Snoek helps the students to move the hydrogen boat between the warehouse and the marina. A kind of horizontal fins hang under the boat. “These ensure that the boat gets a ‘lift’ at a higher speed. This causes the hull to rise above the water. The boat then almost flies over the water,” says student Mandy.
But we are not there yet. The students are struggling with battery problems. They consult, investigate and tinker before a new, quiet test run. But time is running out, because in July the students will participate in a competition in Monaco. And to have a chance there, the boat must really be able to ‘fly’ at speed.
“In Monaco we will become world champions and make history.”
“That will work,” Mandy laughs confidently. “In Monaco we will become world champions and make history.” It project is still in the testing phase, so it is logical that things do not go well right away. In that sense, you can compare the students to the Solar Team that developed a solar-powered family car at Eindhoven University of Technology. That search for new technology was also associated with a race.
Warehouse owner Huib Snoek from Drimmelen is in any case confident: “They are going to win and we will soon be a step further towards the future, with a little help from me.”
