{"id":103,"date":"2025-06-24T15:11:56","date_gmt":"2025-06-24T15:11:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yachtersworld.com\/?p=103"},"modified":"2025-06-24T15:11:56","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T15:11:56","slug":"high-power-low-voltage-molabos-game-changing-electric-marine-drives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yachtersworld.com\/?p=103","title":{"rendered":"High Power, Low Voltage: Molabo\u2019s Game-Changing Electric Marine Drives"},"content":{"rendered":"

With a novel 48V system that matches the efficiency of high-voltage setups, Molabo is simplifying electric and hybrid propulsion for yachts and commercial vessels alike<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Molabo, a little-known German company with firm roots in academic research, offers a radically different alternative for marine electric and hybrid propulsion systems.<\/p>\n

Conventional electric motors powerful enough to propel a reasonably sized yacht require one of two big compromises. To maximise efficiency system voltage must be very high and 400V or more is not uncommon. Yet this has safety implications that some owners find unacceptable, even if commercial vessels are already operating reliably with 800V DC systems.<\/p>\n

In addition, high voltages create a potential for maintenance hassles, as few marine electricians in the recreational marine world are trained or qualified to work on them.<\/p>\n

Novel new motor<\/h2>\n

Today almost every electric motor uses three sets of windings in much the same manner as those of 100 years ago. Yet these windings are fragile and therefore prone to burning out in an over-current situation or as a result of a water cooling failure. They are also susceptible to damage caused by mechanical stress as a result of vibration stemming from poor installation or manufacturing defects.<\/p>\n

By contrast, Molabo uses a novel type of low voltage electric motor, developed by the company\u2019s founders at the Universit\u00e4t der Bundeswehr M\u00fcnchen Lab under the guidance of Professor Dieter Gerling, who remains involved with the project.<\/p>\n

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Low voltage Molabo can be included in a fully integrated system<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The key breakthrough is in the use of 12 solid metal rods, instead of three sets of windings, in what the company calls an Intelligent Stator Cage Drive (ISCAD). This simplifies the motor and has the potential to lower production costs once volumes increase.<\/p>\n

This multi-phase approach, with a dozen phases in parallel, makes high traction power at 48V a reality. This means the motors can run efficiently at far lower voltages than others without requiring massively heavy wiring to handle high currents.<\/p>\n

Low voltage, high power<\/h2>\n

The result is a low voltage 48V DC system that has efficiency equivalent to conventional high voltage installations.<\/p>\n

Article continues below\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

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