http://juneauempire.com/local/2015-01-27/electrifying-eco-tourism Electrifying eco-tourism January 27, 2015 - Melissa Griffiths
[images http://jun-cdn.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/superphoto/Varness%202.JPG Robert Varness shows off his new Torqeedo electric motor for his Zodiac boat. Varness' interest in renewable energy has led him to design an electric catamaran. / Melissa Griffiths http://jun-cdn.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/superphoto/14081695.jpg Pictured is a rendering for Robert Varness' electric catamaran, a 50-foot, 47 passenger electric vehicle that travels at 8 knots, is silent and produces zero carbon emisssions. Varness decided to pursue designing the vessel after attending the 2014 Innovation Summit put on by the Juneau Economic Development Council. This year's summit will be held Wednesday and Thursday. / Bob Varness ] • Varness to present on proposed electric catamaran • Innovation Summit to be held Wednesday, Thursday Robert Varness’ wife was worried he might get bored in retirement, but the former Alaska Communications general manager has kept himself more than busy designing what he thinks could be the future of eco-tourism. Varness imagined he would get back into offering whale watching tours, but now he’s looking to captain a catamaran with an electric motor. “I was hoping I could just go buy one,” he said. Unfortunately, there’s nothing on the market that met his needs. Combining his 38 years of experience working with technology and his passion for boating, Varness moved forward with designing and building the boat he imagined — a 50-foot catamaran that runs on an all-electric motor. There are a number of electric boats out there, just not quite what he’s after. Varness described the closest he found, a Duffy Electric 30-foot vessel, as “more a luxury type cruiser.” There are also much larger vessels, like a 360-passenger ferry in Norway. Varness started Tongass Rain Electric Cruise and has invested more than $50,000 of his own money to design the vessel. Now he’s working to secure investments so production can begin. Varness isn’t after an electric catamaran for novelty’s sake; he sees a number of benefits to using an electric catamaran. He’s always admired the views out on the water but complained that at the end of a day of whale watching, a haze often hangs over the channel from so many diesel-powered boats traversing it. Varness described his vision of gliding across the water without the rumble of a diesel engine, leaving only a small wake and zero fuel emissions. The vessel would also have propeller guards to keep marine life from danger, since the motor would be almost soundless. It will be a high-tech venture all around, with a hydrophone to hear whale sounds and onboard broadband to stream video of the vessel’s adventures. Also part of his vision is the potential for offering lower-cost tours since charging the vessel’s lithium ion batteries using Juneau’s hydropower would cost only $42, compared to $186 for a diesel-powered vessel (calculated at $3.32 per gallon). Varness sought out marine engineer Scott Jutson with Jutson Marine Design, and is now working with the U.S. Coast Guard to get his design approved. The vessel is ready for production by Armstrong Marine in Port Angeles, Washington, as soon as the funding is in place. In order to provide more affordable tours, especially in the months just before and after traditional tourism season, Varness has looked to Kickstarter for funding as well. “If I fund it through Kickstarter, I can run the business very differently than if I finance it,” Varness explained. He’s been reaching out to environmental groups as well, hoping they will support an initiative that would use renewable energy from Juneau’s hydropower grid and cut down on carbon emissions. Varness has been working with Juneau Economic Development Council’s Renewable Energy Working Group, part of the organization’s cluster initiative. He will present a 10-minute talk during the upcoming Innovation Summit on Wednesday and Thursday. Varness said attending last year’s summit cemented his decision to move forward with plans to build the boat. Varness will be one of a number of presenters of “Innovation Shorts” during the two-day summit. Presentations will be at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28 and at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29. JEDC Executive Director Brian Holst said in a Jan. 16 interview there will be something for everyone at the summit, including Varness’ “water-powered boat.” He sees it as an opportunity to share ideas and network. Varness is hopeful those in Juneau who are exposed to his idea will see the value in using an electric catamaran for enjoying Southeast Alaska’s waters. He pictures not just one of his boats out on the water, but many. For Varness, combining his background in technology and his love of the place his family has called home for five generations was a perfect fit, and he hopes his electric catamaran is a perfect fit for Southeast Alaska’s environment and economy. [© juneauempire.com] ... http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1704051221/tongass-rain-electric-catamaran-juneau-alaska funding> Tongass Rain, Electric Catamaran Juneau, Alaska Tongass Rain, Alaska's first 50' 47 passenger pure electric eco tour vessel. 8 knots, silent, minimal wake and zero carbon emissions ... ... http://jedc.org/innovation/ Innovation Summit to be held Wednesday, Thursday For EVLN posts use: http://evdl.org/evln/ http://www.evdl.org/archive/index.html#nabble+template%2FNamlServlet.jtp%3Fmacro%3Dsearch_page%26node%3D413529%26query%3DEVLN%2Bbrucedp2%26days%3D0%26sort%3Ddate {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-Varness-Tongass-Rain-Electric-Catamaran-Juneau-AK-Kickstarter-tp4673670.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
