Pressmare | Electric Innovation at Sea: Baltic Yachts and Molabo Show What’s Possible at 48 Volts
Baltic Yachts is advancing the next generation of smart, quiet, and efficient sailing systems by integrating Molabo's safe-to-touch 48-volt electric motors across a wide range of onboard functions. The Finnish builder has been working with Molabo for several years, adopting their solutions for propulsion, hydraulic sail-handling systems, and energy generation on a number of boats. ARIES motors can also power deck equipment, keel, rudder, and trim-control actuators, or bow and stern thrusters.
Molabo created the first RPM-controlled version of their ARIES drive for Baltic's hydraulic electrification project. The low-voltage, high-torque motor delivers immediate response, precise control, and significantly reduced noise and vibration, without the complexity or certification burden of installing and maintaining a high-voltage system. "Electric-powered auxiliary systems are a natural upgrade for oceangoing yachts," said Kim Kolam, senior electrical engineer for Baltic Yachts. "While sailing, the 48-volt motors allow us to operate essential systems while minimizing engine and generator runtime, and the high-capacity battery bank provides plenty of storage to power onboard amenities while at anchor."
Baltic has also used ARIES drives for low-voltage parallel hybrid systems for anchoring or harbor maneuvering, as well as generating renewable energy while under sail. These hybrid-electric setups can also offer benefits while sailing. Running the motor at very low output can subtly increase the yacht's speed and, as a result, its apparent wind angle and pressure.
This technique can improve sail trim efficiency, maintain laminar airflow in light winds, and help keep foiling or semi-foiling yachts "on step". 
"Being able to apply just 200-500 W of electric thrust to maintain momentum or optimize airflow opens up entirely new possibilities for sailors," noted Andreas Baumgardt, Molabo's head of marine ecosystems and applications. "With up to 50 kW of power available at just 48 V, you can enhance performance and efficiency on even large sailing yachts."
Building on the success of its low-voltage drive platform, Molabo recently introduced a 50-kW jet drive and a 48 V serial hybrid system with Fischer Panda's lightweight AGT-series generators.
Originally developed for Team Malizia's IMOCA racing program, the system delivers the endurance and reliability needed for offshore campaigns while preserving Molabo's hallmark safety and serviceability.
"The spectrum of vessels that can benefit from low-voltage electrification continues to broaden," said Adrian Patzak, COO of Molabo. "These innovations allow builders to electrify onboard systems, support long-range or shorthanded cruising, and power high-demand applications without dealing with high-voltage complexity."
References
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