The electric SolarImpact yacht is not only a first of its kind, but is covered in over 3,000 sq ft of solar panels, according to New Atlas.
The 78-foot yacht is an ocean-cruiser that is solar powered and has an 800-kWh battery for 10 hours of cruise time. This time can be extended by giving the battery a boost with the sun’s rays, and the solar array can generate up to 320 kWh on a sunny day.
The 70-ton aluminum-hulled yacht gets up to 1,000 kW of all-electric power with a maximum speed of 22 knots, but if it’s running the regular systems only on solar power, then prepare for a slow and steady pace. Although you may be able to cruise indefinitely on solar power, you’ll be going at a speed of 5 knots. In comparison, a regular yacht of the same size would burn 26 gallons of fuel per hour at a 10-knot cruise.
If the sun doesn’t seem to want to come out, there is a pair of 65-kW range-extending diesel engines on board for backup. The drive systems are also automated and use AI assistance so only one person has to maneuver the yacht.
SolarImpact also has stabilizing technology with torpedo-shaped buoyancy hulls to help reduce side-to-side rolling by almost 90 percent.
The SolarImpact was revealed at Cannes yachting Festival, which included a 3D model for potential buyers to explore in virtual reality.