- Vessel will be designed by progressive car brand CUPRA
- Solar electric catamaran will create environmentally friendly yachting experience
- Collaboration brings together partners from shipping and automotive industry to link individual mobility and sustainability
SILENT-YACHTS will develop a solar electric catamaran which is powered by Volkswagen´s modular electric drive matrix MEB. The vessel will be designed by the Barcelona’s progressive car brand CUPRA. The collaboration brings together partners from shipping and automotive industry to link individual mobility and sustainability. Thus, the solar electric catamaran will create environmentally friendly yachting experience.
“I’m happy to cooperate with our partners on this exciting new project,” said Michael Köhler, founder and CEO of SILENT-YACHTS. “Volkswagen Group is one of the most advanced players on the electric cars market and I am sure together we can make something really special on the water.”
The solar electric powered catamaran project embodies the perfect alliance among companies with three compatible areas of expertise. While CUPRA is characterised by its contemporary sportiness and emotional design, Volkswagen offers its state-of-the-art modular electric drive matrix (MEB) contributing to e-mobility and reduced emissions; and SILENT-YACHTS brings over fifteen years of experience in alternative power sources for yachts.
Volkswagen opened up its MEB for third parties. The innovative approach of the maritime project offers furthers possibilities to tap into new areas of cooperation.
The new solar electric catamaran will offer noiseless navigation and unlimited cruising range with alternative propulsion systems. Such new experience of nature and water sports will be possible thanks to the solar electric power system developed by SILENT-YACHTS, which feeds the electric propulsion of the vessel and all its household energy needs. All in all, the catamaran will grant more comfort, independence, reliability and safety with less maintenance and costs than any conventional fuel-depending propulsion and energy-supply.
CUPRA is showing its emotional design competencies on the streets and at sea, adding its contemporary touch and sporty approach to this unique project along with SILENT-YACHTS, the world’s first and only manufacturer of oceangoing yachts that are fully sustainable and powered by solar energy.
SILENT-YACHTS produce the first fully solar-sustainable oceangoing production catamaran yachts in the world. Exclusively powered by solar energy and capable of cruising up to 100 miles per day. This is pure solar–powered luxury. Founders Heike and Michael Köhler, who have spent 6,000 days aboard cruising more than 75,000 miles all around the world, founded SILENT-YACHTS. In 2009, they launched the SOLARWAVE 46, the first fully self-sufficient blue-water catamaran, after years of testing solar-powered propulsion.
The company has been building boats for 10 years. During the last three years, they have delivered more than a dozen solar powered catamarans. In February 2018, the SILENT 64 cruised the North Atlantic in 16 days, with no sun for over a week. SILENT-YACHTS’ current range: SILENT 44, SILENT 55, SILENT 60, SILENT 80 and 80 Tri-Deck ranging from 13 to 24 meters in length.
