The America’s Cup recently announced its official Defender and Challenger for the 2024 event. Defender Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ) accepted the challenge from American Magic, representing the New York Yacht Club. Besides the breakthrough foil and sail-plan designs that are sure to define the next Cup, an even more revolutionary type of propulsion technology could become real a lot sooner: Hydrogen fuel cells.
The New Zealand team just announced the near-completion of its hydrogen-powered catamaran prototype that will serve as the tender for its AC40 raceboats. ETNZ said in a statement that construction of the 33-foot foiling cat began in August 2021 at its facility in Auckland. The Cup Defender is now working with Toyota on installing the hydrogen fuel cell.
Sanlorenzo, Lurssen, Feadship, and Baglietto all announced intentions to develop hydrogen fuel cells for…