BMW teams up with Tyde to craft the world's largest emission-free hydrofoil yacht
The concept of implementing lift-generating surfaces in ship design isn't novel. Known primarily as the inventor of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell was an early advocate of this notion. Subsequent decades validated Bell's idea, with numerous boat and ship models appearing globally, all crafted to glide above the water without contact.
This approach revolves around hydrofoils - subaquatic aerodynamic surfaces. As the ship accelerates, water flowing over the hydrofoils starts to generate lift, elevating the hull.
Consequently, a high-speed ship cruises with its hull raised above the water, resting only on brackets where the underwater wings are fixed. This tactic is employed by hydrofoil creators amongst others, which, due to an elevated hull that does not produce significant pull, can achieve incredibly high speeds.
Emmission-free Hydrofoil, Tyde Open
BMW has embraced this methodology as well, debuting the innovative, emission-free yacht, Icon, in the spring of 2023, in partnership with Tyde. Not resting on their laurels, they proceeded to unveil another electricity-fueled model with hydrofoils a few months later, the Tyde Open. As per its creators, it's the world's largest vessel employing such solutions.
The yacht, with a nearly 49-foot hull, rises approximately 12 feet above water when at high speed. Powered by two 100 kW electric motors, the unit can reach cruising speeds of 25 knots and peak at 30 knots – with zero emissions, the creators underscore, while also generating minimal waves.
The yacht is engineered to accommodate batteries with a 400 kWh capacity, which purportedly allows it to cover about 50 nautical miles. As with the precedingly introduced Icon yacht, energy was stored in batteries from the BMW i3 car. Hence, although BMW hasn't officially confirmed this, it's probable that car-type energy storage will also be utilized in the new yacht.
Production of this custom-ordered yacht is set to commence within the coming month, with the initial models projected to reach customers by the Autumn of 2024.
