New electric drive from eD-TEC: The future on the water is electric

eD-TEC (Electric Driven Technology) is the name of a young startup from Munich that develops electric drives for motorboats. In May, the company tested the first boat equipped with a corresponding system. SeaHelp secured the test runs in Croatia on the island of Krk off the Punat marina.

The future on the water is electric – of this Michael Jost is convinced. The now 61-year-old was one of the protagonists of the electric strategy under the then Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess until 2021. Jost is certain that the changes in terms of drive systems will take place just as consistently on the water as they currently do on the road; when, he says, is only a question of time.

For this reason, the former VW strategist went into business for himself and founded his own family company called eD-TEC. His goal: as he did at VW, Jost now wants to develop platforms and modules between 50 and 2,400 kW for electric drives – but this time for yachts six to 30 meters long. This should – in addition to the environmental aspect – help reduce costs and ensure easy installation – even on used yachts whose drives are to be converted to electric.

The young company was able to present a first, self-developed drive after only one year

The young company is proud to be able to present a first, completely self-developed drive after only a relatively short period of one year. After the eD-QDrive 1 was first presented to an interested, broad public at the Cannes Yachting Festival, the first all-electric drive system from the Munich-based company was now put through its paces on the water in May in Croatia on the island of Krk off the Punat marina.

The test boat was a nine-meter long open monohull, a modified K900 wood composite from Kaiser Boots-Manufactur, which had been equipped with 2 x 200 kW peak power and 70 kWh battery capacity. The screen, display and operating concept were also developed by eD-TEC. SeaHelp was present and provided security for the Sea Trials.

First tests in the water off the island of Krk were successful; SeaHelp secured the Sea-Trials

After several hours of high-speed driving, eD-TEC was able to draw a thoroughly positive conclusion: the first water tests were “successful”, only at a higher speed the water resistance decreases and thus secures more range, said Marc Jost after the test drives.

For the young entrepreneur, this means a “cruising speed of about 25 to 30 kn” (46.3 to 55.5 km/h), he said. “The first tests could confirm the concept”, says also the father of Marc, company founder Michael Jost. Important for the former VW developer: “we could also see the importance of a holistic system”. It had shown that “in addition to modern drive technology, a flow-optimized fuselage concept is also necessary”.

The concept of modular propulsion has proven itself, and soon a top speed of 50 knots will be reached in a next test

The cruising speed had been achieved with “good maneuverability”, the company said in unison. Thus, “the concept of modular propulsion in particular and the system with all functions as a whole” had proven itself. In a further sea trial to follow shortly, a top speed of more than 50 kn (92.6 km/h) is now announced.

A catamaran supported by foils will then serve as a test boat. The HySuCAT 28, a 28-foot carbon lightweight is a world premiere and is to be developed together with Silent Yachts. Other partners in the upcoming eD-TEC project include Leigh for eD-QDrive of New Zealand, Baumüller Group of Nuremberg, Germany, and Malan of South Africa for the HySuCat hull.

The upcoming tests will run soon with a lightweight high tech carbon catamaran, also in Marina Punat

Until then, father and sons Jost (besides Marc, Mike Jost also works in the company) still have a lot to do: “the extensive tests have provided us with revealing data”, as with a more modern car, all system values have been measured and recorded, says Mike Jost after the tests. This data would now be evaluated in the coming weeks to further optimize the system and individual functions.

The coming tests are to run again in the Marina Punat, because this marina is characterized by a “strategy for a sustainable future”, it is said from the company side; the yacht service has supported with “great pleasure” the testing of the all-electric boats of the company eD-TEC and sees this as its own contribution to a sustainable future.

SeaHelp secured the test runs with know-how and powerful and fast response boats

SeaHelp, Europe’s largest breakdown and recovery service for recreational boating to assist in non-life-threatening situations, which is also consistently committed to sustainability, is supporting eD-TEC’s Sea Trials by providing fast and powerful service boats to escort and provide security.

“eD-TEC is a pioneer in the field of nautical e-mobility with its highly integrated holistic propulsion system, we are pleased to be able to secure the trial”, says SeaHelp managing director Wolfgang Dauser. Test drives with significantly more than 30 kn (55.5 km/h) would require professional planning and support, for which SeaHelp is a specialist.

Information and advice