Let’s discuss the operation of the DSe Hybrid:

1. At the dock.

While at the dock, the DSe will be plugged into shore power with a pair of 30 Amp shore power cables. From the inlet, the power goes to a pair of Outback 48 vDC/50 Amp battery chargers/120 vAC/3.6 kW pure sine wave inverters. The shore power is both charging the batteries and being directed to the 120 vAC service panels. When you unplug, the inverters take over automatically, supplying all your 120 vAC needs (TVs, Bose home theater, satellite system, refrigerator (our signature hi-tech Hitachi with one door and four drawers), GE Profile Advantium microwave/convection oven, induction cooktops, outlets, etc.).

There are DC/DC converters providing charging power to the 12 VDC systems. These systems will be used for electronics and domestic needs (heads, pumps, lighting, etc.).

A pair of 60 Amp Outback solar controller/chargers are always charging the batteries when the sun is shining.

2. At anchor.

While at anchor during the day, primary power source is the 6 kW solar array. This will be wired, via a pair of Outback MPPT Solar Controller/Chargers, to the 48 volt DC battery arrays. Also wired to the batteries are the 5 kW generator/motors attached to the Steyr diesels. The Steyr control panels (graphical touch screen LCDs) will indicate battery condition and power usage. Third, will be the pair of 1.5 kW wind generators from Urban Green Energy. These will provide 48 vDC power whenever the wind is in excess of 8 knots, day or night. The battery bank and, as necessary, the generator(s) provide power at night.

If your power demands exceed power being produced by the solar array and wind, you can start one of the diesels which will provide up to 5 kW of charging power. If you’re running all the air conditioning, cooking, doing the laundry and making fresh water (water maker optional), then you may need to crank up the second diesel - now you’ll have a total of 10 kW of power available. (As a reference, a pair of 30 Amp/120 vAC shore power inlets provide 7.2 kW of electricity. This is the exact same amount available on the DSe from the pair of 3.6 kW inverters.)

The DC/DC converters will provide 12 VDC using the input from the solar array, wind, and/or battery banks for electronics and domestic systems.

3. Underway.

When you’re ready to leave the dock or pick up anchor, you first choose your operating mode depending on your day’s proposed cruising. If you plan a slow cruise on a sunny day where the solar array will meet power demands or an evening cocktail cruise where you plan on returning to your slip (letting you replenish the batteries on shore power), then you can simply turn the ignition key on, select electric, put her in gear and start running. This is your “Silent Running,” ZERO EMISSIONS mode.

If you have plans to drive a bit faster and/or the day is overcast and you do not plan on returning to your slip or sitting at anchor long enough to recharge the batteries from solar or wind, you turn the keys until you engage the starters. The diesels start and now operate like any other diesel engine, except for the fact that you will be simultaneously generating up to 5 kW of power from each Steyr Hybrid. There is no need to separately start a generator as in most cruising yachts of this size. The Steyr controller automatically sends the appropriate amount of charging current to the batteries. Of course, if the sun is shining, there is a simultaneous charge from the solar array.

4. Driving

Driving the DSe is similar to driving any other twin-engine yacht is the same whether driving in electric mode or diesel mode.

Once you’re ready to leave the dock or pick up the anchor, you first decide which mode to use. Most likely for harbor use, you’ll start with electric.

Then you shift into gear with the “Fly by Wire” electronic controls from Tecnautic - steering is done with the knob located between the shifter levers and electronically communicated via CANbus to the gyro controlled hydraulic helm pump. The autopilot, interfaced with the Garmin 15” touchscreen is part of the Tecnautic system. The electric motors slowly slide the DSe out of your boat slip. You maneuver just like any twin engine yacht by shifting and rudder placement. (Note: there is a backup manual hydraulic pump with a steering wheel in front of the starboard helm chair that is always available.)

If, once away from the dock, you choose to cruise at faster speeds than current available from the batteries, wind or solar allow, you then shut down, turning off the key switches. Then turn the key switches back on and start up the diesels; you are automatically running on diesel power and charging your batteries. The steering and engine controls remain the same.

Steering is done by twisting the knob left or right which transmits a control signal to the electric actuator which then rotates the rudders as would any normal steering system.

Reach your destination and slow down, turn off the diesels for a silent entry into the harbor or marina.

5. A word about batteries

The DSe’s primary sources of power are the Sun and Wind. The secondary source are the Steyr diesels/generators. A third source are the batteries, which can be used to supplement power coming from the solar array and wind generators. The batteries are in constant use, balancing the incoming current with the outgoing electrical needs. At night, the batteries provide energy for overnight domestic use and short “sunset cocktail cruises.”

That being said, we have decided on the most robust batteries we can find - AGM-style “True Lead” Odysseys from Enersys here in the U.S. In discussions with their engineers, we learned as much as we could about the “life” of a battery, especially based on the DSe’s application.

The “life” of a battery can best be compared to a large tank of fuel - once it’s gone, it’s gone. You can use that “fuel” quickly or at a slower pace, but you end up using a finite amount of energy. If you think of the total Watt/Hours of use, AGM-style batteries are similar. If you discharge them 25% at each use, you’ll get twice the number of uses than if you’d discharged them 50% each time. Total energy use is about the same. The engineers at Enersys tells us that the “life” of their “True Lead” batteries is 400 FULL DISCHARGES. (Our bench tests show many more potential discharges.) So, whether you use them up in a year or 5 years, is up to how you use your DSe. Our feeling is that the batteries are there to be used and enjoyed.

Take a look at the Flow Chart showing the DSe’s Components

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