Watercraft

Abstract

A watercraft including a hull; a deck; a propulsion system to propel the watercraft; an electric motor to drive the propulsion system; a battery; and at least one heat exchanger at least partially extending out of the hull such that at least a portion of the heat exchanger is in contact with the body of water, a first cooling circuit in thermal communication with the heat exchanger and at least one of the battery and the electric motor, the first cooling circuit being configured to circulate a heat exchange fluid therein, a second cooling circuit being in thermal communication with an other one of the at least one of the electric motor and the battery, the second cooling circuit being in fluid communication with the body of water during operation of the watercraft for circulating water from the body of water in the second cooling circuit during use.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A watercraft for operating on a body of water, the watercraft comprising:
 a hull;   a deck supported by the hull;   a propulsion system supported by the hull and configured to propel the watercraft;   an electric motor operatively connected to the propulsion system to drive the propulsion system;   a battery electrically connected to the electric motor for powering the electric motor; and   at least one heat exchanger supported by the hull, the at least one heat exchanger at least partially extending out of the hull such that at least a portion of the at least one heat exchanger is in contact with the body of water,   a first cooling circuit being in thermal communication with the at least one heat exchanger and at least one of the battery and the electric motor, the first cooling circuit being configured to circulate a heat exchange fluid therein,   a second cooling circuit being in thermal communication with an other one of the at least one of the electric motor and the battery, the second cooling circuit being in fluid communication with the body of water during operation of the watercraft for circulating water from the body of water in the second cooling circuit during use.   
     
     
         2 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a charger electrically connected to the battery; and   an inverter electrically connected to the battery.   
     
     
         3 . The watercraft of  claim 2 , wherein the first cooling circuit is further in thermal communication with at least one of the charger and the inverter. 
     
     
         4 . The watercraft of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the first cooling circuit is arranged to transfer, when in operation, heat from the at least one of the battery and the electric motor and the at least one of the charger and the inverter to the body of water via the at least one heat exchanger; and   the second cooling circuit is arranged to transfer, when in operation, heat from the other one of the battery and the electric motor to the body of water.   
     
     
         5 . The watercraft of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the at least one of the battery and the electric motor is the battery, the first cooling circuit being in thermal communication with the battery; and   the other one of the battery and the electric motor is the electric motor, the second cooling circuit being in thermal communication with the electric motor.   
     
     
         6 . The watercraft of  claim 2 , wherein the second cooling circuit is further in thermal communication with at least one of the charger and the inverter. 
     
     
         7 . The watercraft of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the first cooling circuit is arranged to transfer, when in operation, heat from the one of the battery and the electric motor to the body of water via the at least one heat exchanger; and   the second cooling circuit is arranged to transfer, when in operation, heat from the other one of the battery and the electric motor and the at least one of the charger and the inverter to the body of water.   
     
     
         8 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , further comprising a first pump forming a portion of the first cooling circuit, the first pump being arranged to cause the heat exchange fluid to circulate through the first cooling circuit. 
     
     
         9 . The watercraft of  claim 8 , further comprising a second pump forming a portion of the second cooling circuit, the second pump being arranged to cause water from the body of water to circulate through the second cooling circuit. 
     
     
         10 . The watercraft of  claim 9 , wherein the second pump forms a portion of the propulsion system. 
     
     
         11 . The watercraft of  claim 5 , wherein the battery, the charger, and the inverter are isolated from the body of water. 
     
     
         12 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first cooling circuit is a closed cooling loop; and   the second cooling circuit is an open cooling loop.   
     
     
         13 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , further comprising a straddle seat supported by the deck; and
 wherein the watercraft is a personal watercraft.