on 8 Sep 2022
The Silent Speed 28 has a top speed of more than 60 knots, while operating in virtual silence.
Austrian-owned yacht brand Silent-Yachts, a global leader in solar-electric catamarans, is launching a new line of high-speed performance boats powered by electric propulsion.
The boat builder revealed the news at the Cannes Yachting Festival this week, and confirmed the first boat in the line is the Silent Speed 28, which will combine the futuristic looks of the Silent range with blistering pace and superyacht finish.
With foil assistance and embedded solar cells on the hardtop, Silent-Yachts says the Speed 28 is suited to being a superyacht tender or a fun boat that can be easily trailered.
The original concept of the new model was developed by eD-TEC, a Germany-based electric propulsion firm that is a new strategic partner for Silent-Yachts. Twin 100kW eD-QDrive electric motors are the heart of this 8.6m rigid inflatable boat. These make it capable of impressive speeds in excess of 60 knots for short bursts.
The boat is equipped with lithium-ion batteries (LiFePO4) storing around 100kWh of energy. This allows it to cover more than 70 miles at cruising speed, which is an exhilarating 30 knots.
“With 18 years of experience in designing and building solar-powered catamarans, we were hungry to push the boundaries again,” says Silent-Yachts founder and CEO Michael Köhler.
Köhler adds that the Silent Speed 28 has been developed in cooperation with Michael Jost (CEO & founder of eD-Tec, former head of group strategy product & CSO of Volkswagen) and his team.
“Our combined know-how coupled with continuing technological advances has made it possible to develop a model line that combines spectacular performance with impressive range.”
The eD-Qdrive 1 powers the Silent Speed 28 to a top speed of more than 60 knots, while operating in virtual silence. The power unit is developed to offer maximum performance and safety whilst ensuring low maintenance. Here again, the entire system possesses an entirely redundant control system, just like an aircraft.
In hull shape, the Silent Speed 28 most closely resembles a catamaran, with two narrow hulls in the water and a broad, blunt bow above the waterline. This provides plenty of buoyancy and disperses spray. A rigid hardtop provides shade in the boat, both for the driver and the passengers.
Being built in carbon fibre helps the vessel to be both lightweight and robust. Solar cells carpet the upper surface of the hard top, currently generating up to 704W of power.
Recharging the main propulsion battery naturally requires a dedicated charging point. The onboard charger can handle 150kW DC, which fully recharges the battery in around 40 minutes. AC charging is possible at up to 22kW. From a Silent yacht, the battery of the Silent Speed 28 can be recharged with the 22.5kW DC wallbox from 30 per cent to 80 per cent in two hours. Port infrastructure varies, but even a standard three-phase charger could do the same job in some four hours.
When the first hull launches in October this year, and will be among the fastest electric production boats on the market.
Last year, Silent-Yachts confirmed a new dealership in Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia, as it continues its push into Asia.