 The boat was originally fitted with 540 Lalande-Chaperon alkaline cells which used Zinc and copper oxide electrodes with potassium hydroxide electrolyte, manufactured by Coumelin, Desmazures et Baillache.These were located towards the bow of the ship arranged into six banks of 45 parallel paired cells connected in series.To vary the speed, banks could be connected in different combinations, 6 banks in series giving 150 V and 8 knots, 3 banks in series in parallel with the other 3 in series giving 114 V and 7 knots, 2 banks in series paralleled 3 times giving 84 V and 5.5 knots, all 6 banks in parallel giving 45 V and 6 knots.