Japan's new Hakugei submarine is a hybrid

 

Japan's new Hakugei submarine packs a stealthy underwater burst

 

A diesel-electric submarine works like a hybrid car. It charges its batteries while running on the diesel engine and switches to battery power once in operational mode. When running on batteries the engine lets out hardly any noise. While nuclear-powered submarines can stay underwater longer, they have to keep the reactors running, which could lead to noise.
 
Japan's diesel-electric submarines use a lithium-ion battery that allows the boat to stay submerged longer. The powerful battery also allows a Tesla-like burst underwater, which could help the submarine evade an incoming torpedo.
 
On Monday, Japan commissioned its newest submarine, Hakugei, equipped with a lithium-ion battery system. It comes at a time when China is advancing its submarine capability, including the possibility of fitting a lithium-ion battery on their boats too.