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BOAT OF THE MONTH ?Battery technology and energy storage in general is improving at a rapid rate, and when it equals that of diesel fuel, electric propulsion will overtake diesel power since it is lighter, more reliable, requiring less maintenance.? ? Joe Fleming, Chief Engineer at ELCOdiesel fuel, batteries today are over ten times the weight of diesel for the same amount of energy content. This relates speciÞ cally to run time. Fleming adds, ÒBattery technology and energy storage in general is improving at a rapid rate, and when it equals that of diesel fuel, electric propulsion will overtake diesel power since it is lighter, more reliable, requiring less maintenance.Ó In general terms, ElcoÕs rule of thumb is that the volume/ weight of electric propulsion (without batteries for elec- tric propulsion, or fuel tank, plumbing, etc for the diesel) is approximately 30% to 50% lighter and approximately 30% less costly, especially considering the EPA standards for diesel that are coming into play. And, it is here in the empire State that the electric motor makes particular sense, especially given that New York probably has a higher re- newable energy content to its power grid than most other states because of hydropower from Niagara Falls and the Erie Canal. Commercial operators watching from the cheap seats will probably want hard data on how much money the state could save by making the switch to electric power. At this early stage, hard numbers have not yet been gathered, but Elco?s new workboat display September 201430 MNMN Sept14 Layout 18-31.indd 30MN Sept14 Layout 18-31.indd 308/20/2014 11:44:33 AM8/20/2014 11:44:33 AM
