Torqeedo and ZF have established a partnership to drive electric mobility for sustainable waterborne passenger transportation. The companies will integrate ZF’s steerable thrusters into Torqeedo’s revolutionary Deep Blue system creating quiet 50kW and 100kW electric propulsion systems that eliminate harmful local emissions and help reduce a vessel’s carbon footprint.
“ZF Group strategy supports transition towards electric mobility in all market segments, from automotive to off-road applications,” said Federico Decio, vice president ZF Marine Pleasure Craft, ZF Friedrichshafen.
“Accordingly, ZF is continuing to expand its portfolio of environment-friendly marine propulsion solutions; the new fully electric propulsion system will combine ZF’s Steerable Pod Propulsion system (SPP) and Torqeedo technology steering to [create] a cleaner mobility and a more sustainable future. The system will make docking not only intuitive and relaxed, but also emission- and noise-free.”
Combustion engines in urban ferries and water taxis are heavily polluting with emissions reaching 100 times the level of harmful substances permitted from diesel engines used in buses and land transportation. Electric-powered urban ferries and water taxis completely eliminate these harmful local emissions and reduce the operation’s climate impact from between 30% and 90%.
“Cities around the world have announced their intentions to take their waterways emission-free,” says Dr Christoph Ballin, CEO and co-founder of Torqeedo. “By integrating steerable thrusters into the Deep Blue family of products, ZF and Torqeedo are prepared to help cities build the public transport systems of tomorrow.”