EnergyMatic is a propeller for sailing yachts, initially presented at the Newport Boat Show in 2022, where it won first prize as the best green product. It is specifically designed to transform into a “hydrogenerator” when necessary; this is an essential feature for boats with 100% electric or hybrid propulsion, but also for those with endothermic propulsion with a shaft alternator.
This is an exceptional solution patented worldwide by EWOL; the company, founded in 1997, is known and renowned across six continents for the quality, reliability, and innovative technology of its sailing propellers.
Suitable types of sailboats
As is well known, fully electric boats require considerable amounts of energy and, when not connected to the dock, this can represent a significant problem in terms of autonomy.
In general, both hybrid and internal combustion engine boats are increasingly energy-hungry, as they are often equipped with double refrigerators, air conditioning, chartplotters, and other various equipment.
All these boats can recharge their batteries very efficiently simply by installing an EWOL EnergyMatic propeller and sailing in “REGEN” mode, i.e., letting the propeller itself function as a hydraulic turbine and generate a considerable amount of energy while sailing.
An ingenious feature
EnergyMatic can be feathered without stopping the shaft (a necessary operation with all other feathering or folding propellers); this means that it is no longer necessary to turn off the engine and engage reverse gear to reduce sailing resistance.
This is an ingenious feature that also allows boats with hydraulic or electric propulsion (which do not have the ability to lock the propeller shaft, unless they are equipped with a separate shaft brake) to gain up to 1.5 knots of speed when sailing.
Technical details
EnergyMatic is a durable, lightweight, high-performance, high-tech propeller that allows you to change the pitch to increase engine cruising speed and greatly facilitates maneuverability when mooring.
Like other EWOL propellers, it is made entirely of stainless steel superalloys with high concentrations of chromium and nickel to maximize mechanical strength, resistance to galvanic corrosion, and product reliability over time.
The charging capacity can vary greatly depending on several parameters: the number of blades (ORION 3-blade version or GEMINI and PEGASUS 4-blade versions), the propeller diameter, the electric motor model and technology, the software and charging parameters set, the propeller shaft angle, the hull appendages, etc. However, based on installations already carried out with medium-small propellers, we can say that the indicative regeneration levels are in a range between 0.6 kW and 1.8 kW at a speed of 7 knots.
