Swiss Solar Boat
Build a hybrid boat using solar and hydrogen as energy sources
Ongoing Interdisciplinary #Rapid Prototyping #Composites #Mechanics #Electronics #3D Printing #MobilityThe purpose of Swiss Solar Boat is to design and build an innovative prototype of a boat, so as to bring together new technologies oriented towards efficiency into the maritime domain. The spirit of the project is to immerse students from multiple sections into a real and complex challenge with a strong emphasis on renewable energies and efficiency.
During its first "design to racing" cycle (2019-2021), Swiss Solar Boat showed its potential. Its world-first foiling proa was able to take the second place in the solar category and win the eco-conception award.
With the 2021-2022 year oriented on optimization, the team had the chance to refine the design, gain more experience, win the championship race and take the second place in the solar category, and, more importantly, to grasp new development avenues.
If the current boat – the Dahu – showed outstanding flight and manoeuvrability performances, its weak spot is endurance. The association is therefore studying hydrogen as a complementary green energy vector, and will build a full hydrogen-solar hybrid foiling boat for 2025.
In the meanwhile, the Dahu will continue as a testing platform, and will be fitted with a hydrogen fuel cell to gain experience and complete our goal for 2023: link Lausanne to Evian and back with zero emission!
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