Diesel-electric without batteries?

as Fast Fred says, avoid belts if you can.
The drawing above was from GlenL. Only such drawing I found.
I also mentioned, cvt tranny as variable speed control. Cvt is belt drive.

For my own installation, I plan the motor direct driving lower unit from above. Makes 360 degree azimuthing easier.

The azimuthing gives me 3 speeds without any REDUCTION IN MOTOR RPM.
PROPELLERS ARE DESIGNED TO WORK MORE EFFICIENTLY IN AHEAD PROPULSION.
By using reverse and 360 azimuthing as a reduced speed setting, I will be running the prop at reduced efficiency and thrust albiet the same rpm, in REVERSE.
The 3rd speed is stop!
I have run diesel electric tugs, and manuevers are frequently done with short bursts of power and then coasting with motor off.
So stop, and coast, or headreach if you prefer, is a manuevering speed.
Oh, I'm putting 2 Albin 25's together in a catamaran configuration. Each hull will have a genset for solo use as separate boat, and for back up (redundancy) when hulls rafted together. Each hull will have a single azimuthing drive. Together, they'll be twin screw, but only need one gen set running for both props turning. And, there are sails.
That's my thoughts. Hope it may inspire someone else to try it.

 

most of the large DE installs are to get away from huge transmissions
DE in offshore vessels is to stop idling huge engines for days at a time when on standby so overall fuel consumption will actually be lower but thats the nature of the job they do.
They all might be lpg fuelled soon as well.

 

additionally, large engines at idle load up with unburnt fuel, dilluting lube oil and creating danger of stack fires. emds blowing out a fog bank of white smoke when reved after a period of idling are case in point