Last week, Emirates Team New Zealand delivered its new hydrogen-powered nailed catamaran to Waitematā Harbor in Auckland for the first time. America’s Cup sailing team developed the Chase Zero prototype chase boat as part of the team’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. Emirates Team New Zealand will use the final version of Chase Zero to defend the next Cup of the Americas in 2024.
The chasing boat is part of the crew and part of the emergency response team. These motorboats follow yachts during races and are the first to respond in the event of a collision, capsizing or mechanical failure. Chase boats are also used to service the yachts between each race of the day, as well as towing the team’s race boat from and to shore at the start and end of each day’s session.
As America’s Cup yachts have grown faster and faster over the past decade with the advent and further development of hydrofoils, so has the required performance of chasing boats. In the 2021 America Cup, pedicure monoyachts used in head-to-head and regatta races reach speeds of up to 53 knots (60 mph). In this event, Emirates Team New Zealand’s main chase boat was a 45-foot catamaran powered by four 300-horsepower Yamaha V6 outboard motors.
The Chase Zero can meet the same performance requirements with hydrogen power. The prototype motorboat was powered by two 220 kilowatt (295 hp) electric motors. To make up for the lack of more than 50% power compared to the previous chasing boat, the Chase Zero uses the same hydrofoil as the boat it chases to fly over the water, reducing drag and increasing efficiency.
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Power to the engine is provided by two 80 kilowatts (107 hp) Toyota hydrogen fuel cells. The Chase Zero carries four 8 kg (17.2 lb) hydrogen tanks pressurized to 350 bar (5,076 psi) to power the fuel cell. While the fuel cells provide enough power in most cases, the chase boat also has two 42 kilowatt hour batteries to supplement the cells in order to utilize the electric motor’s full potential and reach the top speed. up to 50 knots (57.5 mph).
Michael Rasmussen, an electrical engineer on the project, said, “Batteries are also used to achieve higher speeds. The boat can travel at about 30kts with 160kW generated from the fuel cell, but to achieve a higher end speed up to 50 knots we can use the battery as well as increase the speed. this to about 420kW in less time. The fuel cell will then recharge the battery when there is excess power again. “
It seems incredible that Emirates Team New Zealand was able to develop a sustainable hydrogen-electric alternative to a 1,200hp motorboat without sacrificing mobility on water. The team sees Chase Zero as an important step forward in reducing the organization’s emissions and having a positive impact on the entire marine industry.
