USA-based Sea Cheetah Corporation has entered a strategic partnership with Toulouse-based hydrogen solutions expert H3 Dynamics to develop what the partners state to be the world’s first hydrogen-electric wing-in-ground effect vessel and an ecosystem of fueling points.
Wing-in-Ground-Effect vessel
Sea Cheetah provides a transportation ecosystem centered around its Wing-in-Ground-Effect (WIGE) vessel, which leverages proven technology to travel in and outside of ground effect at speeds exceeding 135kts (250km/h/155mph). Flying a few meters above the water, Sea Cheetah vessels connect coastal and island regions at a fraction of the time and cost of existing maritime transportation. Sea Cheetah stands out through its unmatched payload capacity and extended operating range.
Although the Sea Cheetah WIGE looks like an aircraft, it will be classified and operated as a marine vessel. This distinction significantly affects the certification process and time to market. Since the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) only regulates vehicles flying above 50ft, WIGE vessels fall outside the FAA’s jurisdiction. The company is collaborating with the Coast Guard and other national maritime organizations to certify the vessels in accordance with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) WIGE ship classification, introduced on May 18, 2018 (MSC.1/Circ.1592).
Hydrogen-electric propulsion system
By working closely with H3 Dynamics, Sea Cheetah will boost its hydrogen-electric propulsion system capability and achieve a fuel economy far beyond fossil-powered systems. The partnership will also deploy small, decentralized green hydrogen production systems named Sea Cheetah H2Hub and H2Hub Micro modules, to support rapid fueling and quick vessel turnaround.
“Our hybrid hydrogen-powered powertrain enables Sea Cheetah’s WIGE vessels to achieve range and payload capacities that were not possible before with batteries, creating more applications and usability for such vessels in different parts of the world,” said Taras Wankewycz, CEO of H3 Dynamics.
“By combining our two companies’ advanced technologies into one platform, Sea Cheetah vessels will now be able to carry three times more payload than competing air- and watercraft, 10 times faster than boats, and 10 times more fuel efficient than aircraft,” stated Serge Markoff, founder and CEO of Sea Cheetah.
In related news, an electric hydrofoiling Candela C-8 was recently driven between Stockholm and the Finnish autonomous region of Åland. This was the first time an electric boat has crossed the Baltic Sea and made the journey between Sweden and Finland. It returned the same day – at a 95% lower cost than a boat powered by fossil fuel. Click here to read the full story.