Hydrogen, as a fuel, has attracted a lot of skepticism globally, mainly because of its inefficient and costly production. That, however, is not stopping one part of the automobile community from pursuing its use. And just in case you thought that the idea was not going to take wings in any considerable manner, know that a hydrogen-powered vehicle has now got the backing of one of the world¡¯s richest men - none other than,?Bill Gates.
The Microsoft co-founder has ordered a $644 million (~Rs 4593 crore) hydrogen-powered superyacht called ¡®Aqua¡¯ for himself. With this order, Gates has also become the first person to do so. So, he would be travelling in an environment friendly vessel after all and one that oozes luxury nonetheless. Who says luxury and sustainability don¡¯t come in the same pack?
With its price tag, it is easy to accept the 'super' moniker attached to the yacht. Built by a Dutch company named Sinot, the Aqua superyacht spreads up to 112 meters (370 feet) in length and features five decks. In all, it claims to have enough space for 14 guests and 31 crew members. Couple this with an outdoor infinity pool, a helipad, a gym, and just in case your yacht ride is not relaxing enough, a spa.
The highlight though, are the two 1 MW motors propelling the Aqua by running on supercooled hydrogen tanks. They are not very performance oriented, with a top speed of up to 17 knots (31. 5 kph), but they do claim an impressive range of 6,035 km. Guess that is important for crossing oceans.
Well, that is when the practicality of the superyacht kicks in, with a diesel engine backup provided by Sinot on the yacht. In case the Aqua is not able to find a Hydrogen fuel station at a dock, the superyacht will use the diesel engine to run like any other yacht. Not so super anymore, eh?
But let us just hope that never happens and whenever Gates takes out the Aqua for a spin, it moves in the environment-friendly way in which it is meant to be. That, however, will not be possible until 2024, when the Aqua is supposed to be launched.