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Optimising Amphibious Efficiency: Power Measurement for Duck Tour Ltd. - Case Study
The Client
Seahorse Amphibious Vehicles, founded by Graham Lumley in 2014, emerged to tackle safety and efficiency challenges in amphibious passenger vehicles. Initially reliant on WWII era vessels or adapted donor motor chassis, Seahorse Amphibious Vehicles set out to revolutionise the industry with innovative designs.
In 2022, Seahorse Amphibious Vehicles entered full production at a new UK-based factory, marking a pivotal shift in their mission. Their flagship model, the Seahorse MKIII, launched the same year, emphasises safety, durability, and a future-ready design for electrification. Their sister company, Duck Tours Ltd, is renowned for splash tours in Windsor, with plans to expand to Liverpool and Glasgow.
Duck Tours Ltd sought to enhance their amphibious vehicles’ performance by accurately measuring power usage during water operations. The primary objective was to gather precise data on power consumption at varying speeds, which would be used to optimise the design of an electric drive system and appropriately size the battery pack. The challenge was to determine the kilowatts per hour consumed by their existing diesel-hydraulic vehicle.
To address this challenge, Datum Electronics provided Duck Tours Ltd with their Compact Shaft Power Meter Kit. This state-of-the-art equipment was used to accurately measure the rotary shaft speed of a 76mm diameter shaft. By integrating this advanced measurement technology, Duck Tours Ltd was able to gather the critical data required for assessing and improving the energy efficiency of their amphibious vehicles.
The data collected using the Compact Shaft Power Meter revealed that the water jet system, previously estimated to consume 40 kW/h, was actually operating at a significantly lower 25 kW/h. This unexpected efficiency was instrumental in guiding the development of the new electric drive system, enabling Duck Tours Ltd to design a more optimised and effective battery pack for their amphibious vehicles. The insights gained not only improved the current vehicle’s performance but also paved the way for future advancements in eco-friendly amphibious transport.
