VW partners with Silent-Yachts to build beautiful, solar-powered yacht

Ten years ago, it'd be hard to imagine Volkswagen building a solar-powered yacht, but the proverbial tide has now turned. 

On Tuesday, Volkswagen announced it's partnered up with German solar yacht manufacturer Silent-Yachts to build a new yacht that will feature Volkswagen's modular e-drive system (MEB) powertrain and solar panels as a main power source. 

Volkswagen, which originally developed MEB for use in its electric vehicles, such as the Volkswagen I.D., says there are multiple benefits of using this powertrain in a yacht. First, the company says, the MEB powertrain is powerful, quiet, and produces low vibrations. Furthermore, Volkswagen says the MEB, which is used "millions of times" in VW's electric cars benefits from economies of scale and ultimately drives the cost of yacht's production down. Finally, VW's powertrain should be easier and cheaper to service.  Read more...