Writen by François Meyer, Actunautique.com – 05.04.2024, (translated from french by torpeedo.org)
While the company trumpets the excellence of its processes and results, the reality experienced by some of its customers is quite different.
With repeated breakdowns, delays and failures, a group of owners of Torqeedo-equipped vessels has come together to take action. The group has drawn up a report pointing the finger at incredible shortcomings that call into question the CE certification of Torqeedo systems, and hence the CE certification of the vessels fitted with them…
A dozen or so users of Torqeedo systems, including high-voltage DeepBlue vessels and their BMW batteries, have reported incredible setbacks at the hands of the German company, which trumpets its successes and results. World number one, leader, global network, innovative company, “driving force in the electrification of the marine sector” – these are just some of the words that will appeal to most people, but also to the major shipyards that have chosen Torqeedo as their electrification partner.
The expert report, produced by Certification Experts BV, a consultancy specialising in CE conformity issues and with whom we have verified the veracity of the example we have in our hands, and which can be seen here, points the finger at some incredible shortcomings in the CE declaration process.
According to Certification Experts BV, Torqeedo did not use the correct CE standard, referring to machinery rather than small recreational crafts.
The consequences are far-reaching, since this discovery tends to demonstrate that these products, having been judged on the basis of the wrong reference system, cannot benefit from CE marking.
No CE conformity = no use within the common market. As a result, the certification of ships fitted with these non-certified components is open to criticism. Dozens of shipyards have chosen Torqeedo, including Delphia, Excess and Bénéteau with the electrical options for its sailing yachts.
Fortunately, it’s worth pointing out that not a single boat (perhaps one or two Delphia) from these brands found a buyer, as the boats presented at the shows were nothing more than show prototypes.
The next question is whether these products will be eligible for the EU Recreational Small Craft standard. It’s not for us to say, but we certainly hope so. It would be extremely unfortunate for Torqeedo’s customers and for the electrification market in general if this were not the case, given the lack of confidence that this incident could generate.
It should also be noted that the solution chosen by Windelo, Transfluid, is fully certified by Small Craft, as is that deployed by Fountaine-Pajot on its Smart Electrics, the latter operating at 400 V where Windelo has chosen the very low voltage of 48 V.
Original article: https://www.actunautique.com/2024/04/serieux-problemes-en-vue-pour-torqeedo.html