ePropulsion Expands Support for Monaco Energy Boat Challenge 2024
Driving sustainable innovation
ePropulsion, a global leader and market innovator in marine electric propulsion systems and services, reinforces its dedication to sustainable boating by sponsoring two new teams at this year’s Monaco Energy Boat Challenge.
The international event, hosted by the Yacht Club de Monaco in collaboration with the International Powerboating Federation (UIM) and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, has been running for over a decade and seeks to showcase cutting-edge systems that minimise environmental impact while maximising nautical performance.
This year’s challenge brings together teams from 35 different universities across the globe to develop sustainable solutions without compromising performance. This year, ePropulsion will be proudly supporting two competing teams: Riviera Racing from Cambridge University, UK and Cóndor Motorsport, representing the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.
Cambridge University’s Riviera Racing marks its Monaco Energy Challenge debut with an innovative zero-emission, single-seater catamaran racing boat, equipped with two of ePropulsion’s state-of-the-art Navy 6.0 EVO (Long Shaft) units, and incorporating hydrofoils for enhanced performance and sustainability.
ePropulsion has also supplied Cóndor Motorsport with its NAVY 6.0 EVO to support its racing craft as the South American university seeks to showcase its passion, commitment, and engineering skills during the competition.
Cóndor Motorsport’s boat design features 4 m2 of solar panels, robust structural support, and a 10-kWh energy storage capacity. Remarkably, this unique design was devised just nine days before the qualifier’s deadline. The team is set to break records by bringing the project to life in less than six months from its initial entry.
Tomás astudillo Inostroza, Captain of Cóndor Motorsports, said; “ePropulsion has proven to be an invaluable partner in our journey. Their unwavering support ignites our competitive drive, pushing us to strive for excellence.”
He continued, “From the outset, ePropulsion has demonstrated a strong belief in our objectives and invested in our vision. Providing us with its top-quality motor and ensuring we have access to all necessary resources; the sponsorship has been instrumental in our success. My team and I are truly excited to collaborate with ePropulsion as we work towards realising our project, setting the stage for the development of the most energy-efficient catamaran imaginable.”
Additionally, Cóndor Motorsport is pioneering the use of mycelium, a sustainable fungus-based insulation material, in collaboration with professors from the University’s Mechanical Engineering department. The department’s innovative research into sustainable composites in structural design will see mycelium exclusively employed for the aerodynamic surfaces within the boat’s cockpit, further highlighting the team’s commitment to eco-friendly innovation.
Danny Tao, co-founder and CEO of ePropulsion, said: “We’re thrilled to once again be supporting the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, an essential event to driving awareness and change in the world of sustainable boating. Our provision of products to two new teams underscores our commitment to fostering innovation in this space.”
The Monaco Energy Boat Challenge recently announced that the Prince Albert II Foundation is setting up a competition open to all universities worldwide, whether they have registered for the 2024 edition or are planning to take part in the event in 2025. On July 6th, 2024, a prize of €25,000 will be awarded to the winner who unveils the best technological solution for yachting regarding energy efficiency and carbon reduction.
For more information about the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge 2024, please visit: https://energyboatchallenge.com/.