Fuel cell Nep Shuttle can quickly carry passengers in French waterways
For people living in coastal areas and along rivers, commuting to specific locations by water is always faster than using land transportation. Powered by fuel cells, the Nep Shuttle is designed for continued use with minimal carbon dioxide emissions.
Currently being developed by French startup NepTech, Nep Shuttle recently won the CES2022 Innovation Award.
The plan requires the catamaran to carry up to 150 passengers (depending on the layout), along with two crew members and up to four bicycles. It is 24 meters long x 8.5 meters wide (78.7 x 27.9 feet) and can As a crew member, you can also autonomously navigate along the route, avoid floating obstacles, and dock to your destination.
NepShuttle also features a specially designed hull design that is out of the way of waves and sprays while minimizing hydrodynamic drag. This design reduces the area of the hull that comes into contact with water and incorporates a system that continuously distributes the traces of air bubbles flowing along the underside of each hull. This “NepAir” technology is said to reduce boundary layer friction. The boat passes through the water.
In addition, the thin hydrofoil underneath the hull is claimed to increase stability as it passes through swells (and thus reduce the likelihood of motion sickness). Unlike traditional foil, no It is designed to allow the boat to rise above the surface of the water at high speeds. Other passenger comfort features include soundproof cabins, anti-vibration seats and Wi-Fi connectivity.
NepShuttle’s body is made of flax fiber, bio-based epoxy resin, recycled plastic
The ship’s twin electric motors are powered by two lithium batteries and are charged by two lithium batteries. Polyelectrolyte membrane fuel cell.. The cruising speed is 35 km / h (22 mph) and the maximum speed is 40 km / h (25 mph).
Although accurate range figures are not provided, NepTech states that with the help of energy and battery management systems, Nep Shuttle is “comparable to the operational performance of traditional diesel-powered vessels.” Refueling can be done at a mobile hydrogen fuel station, so the shuttle does not have to return to the home base each time the fuel cell runs low.
All this may seem very conceptual, but the company is already reported to be experimenting with different technologies on a one-seventh scale demonstrator catamaran. The full-size Nep Shuttle will be available in 2023 or 2024, according to NepTech representatives. Initially used on the Seine and the port of Marseille.
