AQUON One: The 64-Foot Hydrogen Yacht Harnessing Solar & Seawater Power for Infinite Cruising
Ladies and Gentlemen, brace yourselves for a jaw-dropping spectacle – the AQUON One eco-catamaran! European yacht broker MYSEA has unleashed this solar electric beast, powered by the sun and hydrogen fuel cells, with swanky lodgings for eight to ten lucky passengers, all without emitting so much as a puff of smoke.
Now, I know we've chatted about solar electric catamarans before, but this one, oh, this one is something else. Born from the loins of a sustainability-focused Swiss company, Swiss Sustainable Yachts AG, the AQUON One is the glorious offspring of Swiss engineering, Spanish naval architecture, and Italian design. A posh, eco-friendly marvel on the water.
The AQUON One is the first zero-emissions yacht from this young company, described by its design team as a "smart designer catamaran that redefines premium yachting." Imagine sailing the high seas in sustainable luxury, powered by green hydrogen and solar energy. AQUON isn't just a fancy name – it represents state-of-the-art technology and powerful clean water luxury.
The AQUON team has developed a unique system aboard this vessel that allows it to roam the ocean blue for days on end without refueling, potentially offering unlimited range. That's right, solar electric hydrogen yachts could be the future at sea.
Now, what sets the AQUON One apart from your average solar-paneled yacht is its hydrogen fuel cells for additional clean power and long-term energy storage. With 64 square meters of photovoltaic solar panels adorning its roof, lithium-ion batteries store the sun's energy for propulsion and onboard use. Excess solar energy then gets busy converting desalinated seawater into hydrogen gas, stored in carbon tanks on board. Fuel cells turn the hydrogen back into electricity, powering two electric motors and providing extra energy for passengers. The only byproducts? Pure water and thermal heat, which cleverly supply hot water and cabin heating.
Even without refueling, this zero-emissions hydrogen electric yacht can journey up to three days at sea while cruising at 4-6 knots, given enough sunlight. When it's not tiptoeing around energy conservation, the AQUON One can hit a cruising speed of 8 knots (9.2 mph) and a top speed of 16 knots (18.4 mph).
Now, you must be wondering how much it costs to own this magnificent vessel. MYSEA tells us the AQUON One fetches a cool 7,400,000 euros (excluding VAT), which is about $8.1 million. But hey, think of all the diesel money you'll be saving!