The efficiency of electric propulsion using magnetic reciprocating propellers is increasing, and it is now possible to use them beyond the existing small unmanned ships to water taxis, leading to a change in the maritime mobility paradigm.

The Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) announced on the 27th that the 'non-contact magnetic gear applied counter-rotating propeller electric propulsion' developed by Dr. Hong Do-kwan's team at the Electric Power Research Center is expected to bring forward the era of water taxis by achieving an output of 50 kW.

The core of this technology development is the application of a ‘non-contact magnetic gear’ that overcomes the limitations of the existing mechanical gear method.

The existing counter-rotating propeller is a method of effectively utilizing rotational energy, but the friction of the mechanical gear generates heat, noise, and vibration, and maintenance costs are high.

To improve this, Dr. Hong's team applied magnetic gears to transmit power without contact, securing high propulsion efficiency and durability.

Since Dr. Hong's team first proposed the counter-rotating propeller technology using magnetic gears in 2022, the research team has successfully completed verification by producing electric propulsion unmanned vessels with outputs of 3kW and 10kW.
br /> Through continuous research, we have succeeded in achieving a 50kW output that can accommodate four adults, which is enough to drive an 8m-sized hydrofoil electric propulsion ship in the future.

If this technology is commercialized, it is expected to bring about innovative changes not only in water taxis but also in the transportation and tourism industries.

The research team is currently conducting continuous research and development with the goal of achieving output of over 100kW in the future, and ultimately plans to complete eco-friendly marine mobility technology that can transport multiple passengers by realizing an electric ship system using a direct current distribution method.

Dr. Hong Do-kwan said, “Non-contact magnetic gear technology with high propulsion efficiency and fuel cost reduction will change the landscape of maritime mobility,” and added, “We plan to pursue commercialization through technology transfer with related companies based on domestic and international research results.”

In the future, there is a high possibility that mechanical gears will be replaced in various fields such as eco-friendly mobility (ships, aviation, automobiles), as well as the defense and automation industries, so the results of this research are expected to have a significant impact across the entire industry.