Farmington Hills, Mich. – electric drives are becoming increasingly prevalent in the boat and ship sector. At Electric & Hybrid Marine Expo, Bosch Engineering North America, a division of Robert Bosch LLC, is unveiling a newly developed, high-performance electrification solution for electrical systems with voltages of up to 800 volts, which further extends the potential use cases of electric drives in maritime applications while also raising system efficiency. “With the latest generation of our electric motor and inverter with silicon carbide power modules, we offer a complete system that allows not only recreational boats but also larger sailing yachts and working boats to be operated with a more efficient, quiet, yet still very powerful electric drive,” states Philip Kurek, who is responsible for off-highway and maritime solutions at Bosch Engineering.
The new electric motor SMG 230 is designed for system voltages of 400 to 800 volts. In an ideal voltage and temperature range, it offers a continuous power output of up to 200 kilowatts and around 250 newton meters of torque. Thanks to the 800-volt technology, the power density has also been increased significantly. The SMG 230 delivers 80 kilowatts more power than a comparable 400-volt machine with identical weight or, with the same level of performance, boasts more compact dimensions and a much lower weight.
The inverter with silicon carbide semiconductors, which is also designed for electrical voltages of up to 800 volts, is characterized by its impressive efficiency of more than 99 percent. The silicon carbide semiconductors in the power modules enable faster switching operations, meaning that significantly less energy is lost in the form of heat.
In addition, the electrification solution from Bosch Engineering offers great flexibility in combination with tailored transmission solutions from Bosch Rexroth, such as the new eGFV9120 coaxial gearbox.
Bosch’s complete kit for the electrification of boat drives comprises electronic control units, inverters, electric motors, and transmissions for both 400- and 800-volt applications. This gives shipyards and system integrators improved flexibility when adapting the electrification strategy to the respective requirements and allows them to integrate the relevant components quickly and easily into their ships. The system components are based on modern automotive technology and combine high robustness with increased reliability. With its comprehensive kit for the electrification of ship drives, Bosch is making a significant contribution to the ongoing reduction of greenhouse gas and noise emissions.
