Azura Marine’s electric yacht to complete voyages powered by sunlight
Azura Marine has unveiled a new $500,000 electric yacht that it claims can complete “non-stop ocean voyages powered only by sunlight”.
It’s the company’s first solar-powered catamaran.
“She is a unique four cabin, eight guest yacht designed for extended cruising without any need for fossil fuels or refuelling stops of any nature,” says the company’s website. “The Aquanima 40 solar-powered catamarans are also equipped with a 56m2 rain catchment system, water maker and air conditioning water recovery – rendering water supply stops unnecessary too.”
Azura Marine claims that the vessel can continuously cruise thanks to its large 10 kW solar power system and 60 kWh battery pack.
“For the owner, this means limitless cruising with no fuel costs, no noise or vibration, no smells, no polluting emissions, and no disturbance of marine life,” says the company. “The electric motors are virtually maintenance-free with only a couple of low-cost bearings to be replaced at 20,000 hours (more than a typical lifetime usage of a yacht).
“Onboard Solar Eclipse, all water is self-produced, including fresh and drinking water, thanks to the yacht’s water-maker, air conditioning water recovery system, and gigantic rainwater collecting solar roof.”
According to the company, the Aquanima 40 series can travel “more than 100 nautical miles (185 km) in a single day without stopping”.
“It was an enormous thrill to launch the yacht last week and undertake her first few miles at sea,” says Azura Marine Co-Founder and CEO, Julien Mélot. “The yacht met all our expectations and while the design makes for near silent operation with exceptional responsiveness, it was incredible to actually experience it – and all in the knowledge that we were not producing any harmful pollution or emissions. With some strong winds and a very tight turn to enter the marina berth, we were delighted by how easy the yacht was to manoeuvre. We simply cannot wait to take her out on her maiden voyage.”
The base version of the Aquanima 40 costs €495,000 (≈$540,000 USD).
