"Garland Gray II" wrote in
news:31zzf.11788$CV.2115@dukeread03:

I think most of these installations have a large genset to charge the
batteries (besides being able to do so under sail--although reducing
your speed). This replaces 2 heavy auxilliary engines and 1 diesel
genset. That would reduce maintenance, but you do lose back-up
reliability. Not sure how much the battery capacity is, but a much
higher voltage is utilised for the drive motors.


Patience, gentlemen, patience....Toshiba is bringing you a new kind of
battery, thanks to the electric car biz....

http://www.physorg.com/news3539.html

Will recharge at incredible current levels to 80% of capacity in SIXTY
SECONDS...full charge in 3 minutes!.....if you gots the current, like heavy
dynamic braking in a car will produce instead of heat.

Power density on the new nanocell is much improved, as is life span. After
1000 charge/discharge cycles, it loses less than 1% of original capacity.

Very great news for anyone storing DC power for any device...even electric
boats. No more slow charging ancient chemical technologies from 1910.