Magnetics Business & Technology - March/April 2021 - 26

INDUSTRY NEWS

Torqeedo Powers Through the Boat Market While Leading Diesel Engine Maker Deutz in
Electrification Strategy
In 2017, Torqeedo was acquired by the DEUTZ Group, one
of the world's leading manufacturers of diesel and natural gas
engines, and now operates as a subsidiary of Deutz AG, also
based in Germany. The acquisition began the implementation
of the parent company's E-Deutz strategy, as Deutz made a
commitment to invest around €100 million initially, including
the acquisition of Torqeedo, to add electric power and drive
systems to its product lineup.

Using Neodymium magnets and axial flux motor designs, electric motor developer Torqeedo of Germany is powering through
a flurry of innovations to become one of the world's leading
manufacturers bent on electrifying marine mobility. At the same
time, its technology is spurring progress in electrification developments based on permanent magnet motor technology at its
parent company, diesel and gasoline engine maker Deutz AG.
" As the marine industry looks ahead to the challenges of tomorrow, Torqeedo and our partners around the world are creating a
new way to move on the water, from dinghies and daysailers to
motorboats, water taxis and ferries, " said Steve Trkla, president
of Torqeedo, Inc., the American branch of the company, at the
2020 Miami International Boat Show and Miami Yacht Show.
Torqeedo's motors and drive systems were featured in the
new launches of several boat makers at the show including the
solar-electric motor yacht shown above, powered by the company's innovative Deep Blue Hybrid system, along with smaller
craft powered by its outboard motors.
The year marked a milestone for the
company, delivering its 100,000th electric
boat motor and, now, fully integrated drive
systems, since being founded 15 years
ago in Starnberg. Today, the company
develops and manufactures electric and
hybrid drives from 0.5 to 100 kW for
commercial applications and recreational
use. Its products are characterized by
an uncompromising high-tech focus,
Deep Blue 50 RXL
maximum efficiency and complete system
outboard
integration. In horsepower equivalents,
its outboards range from from 1 to 80 HP,
inboards from 40 to 80 HP. It also makes pod drives from 5 to
20 HP, a saildrive with 40 HP, and hybrid drives for yachts up to
160 HP.
In sync with its relentless product development, Torqeedo planned to launch two
new motor models in 2020, a professional-grade Ultralight motor for serious
kayak anglers, and a 20-horsepower
Deep Blue inboard
equivalent Cruise 10.0 T outboard. At
Miami, visitors were also able to take a
look at two new 100% electric runabouts powered by Torqeedo
motors. A brand-new Phoenix 290 by Canadian Electric Boat
Company boasts two Deep Blue 50 R outboards while Zin
Boats demonstrated its Z2R runabout powered by a Deep Blue
50i system. The craft reaches a top speed of 35 mph and has a
range of 100 miles at cruising speed.

Magnetics Business & Technology * March/April 2021

" Torqeedo uses rare earth, permanent magnets in our motors, " says Dr Ralf Plieninger,
CTO of Torqeedo, who was recently promoted to managing director of the company.
It characterizes its technology according to
five key criteria in marine propulsion that
distinguish electric motors: frequency characteristics; alternating field generation (commutation); magnetic field excitation; structural
design; and magnetic field direction relative to
the rotational axis.

Ralf Plieninger,
Managing Director and CTO of
Torqeedo

Synchronous
motors

Depending on the frequency characteristics, a difference is made
between asynchronous motors
and synchronous motors. Torqeedo motors are always synchronous. In asynchronous motors,
the ratio of the motor speed to the
frequency of supply voltage is not
constant but varies depending on
the load state of the machine. The
higher the load, the higher the speed difference - the so-called
" slip " - i.e. a specified propeller speed will not be maintained
when flow resistance is greater. Thrust is therefore not available at the precise moment it is needed.
With synchronous motors, however, the ratio of the motor
speed to the frequency of supply voltage is constant. As a rule,
synchronous motors are torque controlled. They therefore always draw as much current as they need in order to deliver the
necessary torque at the desired motor speed. For this reason,
they are the preferred choice for use in fields with especially demanding torque requirements. If the motor needs more power
to maintain a given propeller speed it will automatically draw
more current.

Electronic commutation

Depending on the type of alternating field generation (commutation), a distinction is made between
mechanically commutated motors and electronically commutated motors. Brush-complemented motors generate the
alternating field necessary for the motor to operate by means
of sliding contacts Owing to their geometrical arrangement,
these " brushes " switch the current depending on the position of
the rotor. A major weakness of these motors is the wear caused
to the brushes, which results in high maintenance overhead.
Contact resistance also causes brush loss, which lowers the
efficiency of the motor.
Alternatively, electronically commutated motors generate the
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Magnetics Business & Technology - March/April 2021

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