L2M – Using Wave Energy to Charge Electric Boats Without a Traditional Charger.

Recently, there has been a massive transition from internal combustion engine-based boats to electric boats that do not depend on fossil fuels. However, there are some factors hindering the fast pace of this transition. These factors include the bulky charging system, the unavailability of reliable power sources, and the increased operational cost of electric boats. Moreover, these electric boats available on the market have two separate bulky and highly expensive circuits that are used for charging and propelling the electric boat. Even those who do not have issues with the bulkiness of the electric boats available on the market have concerns about the struggles involved in getting access to charging infrastructures wherever they are in the ocean.
In this project, a novel integrated on-board charging system would be developed to eliminate the traditional chargers used by modern electric boats. With this innovative approach, the same propulsion system would be used for charging the electric boat’s battery when stationary, thereby reducing its size, cost, and weight. This integrated system is powered by wave energy, which does not contribute to any release of harmful gases into the atmosphere and does not require the boat to be at the shore before it can be charged. The solution is a potential game changer in the marine transportation industry as it has been proven to be efficient and reliable.
However, getting a market-ready version of the solution has been a challenge because of the high cost of the materials involved. Other challenges have been the lack of partnerships with electric boat manufacturers and mentorship benefits such as guidance in customer segment development.

Faculty Supervisor:

Ashraf Ali Khan

Student:

Partner:

Springboard Atlantic Inc.

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Transportation (excluding aerospace); Technology; Clean Technology

University:

Memorial University of Newfoundland

Program: