Safe Boats International (SBI), Bremerton, Wash., and UK-based Vita Power have signed an agreement to build zero-emission patrol boats.
The objective of this partnership was to develop a 100% electric patrol boat that is a first-class solution and is both reliable and practical, Safe Boats said. Together, the companies have adapted one of Safe's’ most proven hull designs - the 23’ center console - to be propelled by Vita Power's V300 electric motor and battery package. Dubbed the “223e”, this concept provides a zero-emission solution for operators who are working long hours at lower speeds, Safe said.
Performance calculations with the 300-hp electric motor predicts that the 223e will maintain an operational battery life of 10 hours at five knots, one hour at cruise speed, and capable of a 34-knot sprint speed, the companies said. Utilizing the Aqua superPower charger from Vita, the boat can recharge in one hour or less. Compared to an outboard-powered engine, the 223e is estimated to save thousands in annual fuel and maintenance costs, Safe said.
The 223e offers the workboat and patrol boat markets a zero-emission option when long, high-speed runs are not required.
"The Safe/Vita collaboration is to develop electric boats that can be used for specific applications such as lake patrols and for harbormasters who are spending most of their time at low speeds in sensitive environments," Safe Boats CEO, Richard Schwarz, said in a statement. "As state regulations clamp down on emissions requirements, boat and engine manufactures are being pushed to develop innovative solutions to maintain compliance.”
“The 223e is the perfect size boat to offer first responders with the range and performance Vita has to offer in a durable workboat,” Clive Johnson, CEO of Vita, said. “The Vita propulsion system is designed to offer a complete electrification solution for a broad range of marine applications from commercial vessels to superyacht tenders, and we are excited to be working with Safe Boats to bring our technology to first responders and harbormasters here in the U.S.”
