eD-TEC’s high-performance sD-QDrive recently pushed its monohull test platform to 40 knots, with an endurance of 190 nautical miles. The first phase of the testing took place in April and early May off Krk, Croatia.
“We tested the entire system, from the plug-and-play drive units to the batteries — we’ve been getting more and more power from the batteries while ensuring their longevity and maintaining their health,” Marc Jost, eD-Tec’s chief strategy officer, said in a statement. “We were also optimizing our software that controls the system and the technology stack, and we performed some endurance testing.”
Initial tests focused on static and low-speed testing. In later testing, the goal was to see how the eD-QDrive 1 system worked in open water with no speed limits. After the tests, Jost said the electrical components performed well. According to the statement, the motor manufacturer is making upgrades to mitigate electromagnetic noise.
The test marina was equipped with a 22 kW charging system that restored the batteries to full capacity in about three hours. A local towing company, SeaHelp, supplied a patrol boat for the testing.
The third round of testing will see the eD-QDrive 1 system and technology stack installed on a Silent Speed 28 boat with the aim of setting a new speed milestone.
