With diesel set to get much more expensive, and environmental concerns growing, there would not be a better time to launch a green, economical hybrid drive deigned for leisure boats.
Hybrid-Marine Ltd has announced that it is collaborating with Beta Marine for the final development, testing and marketing of a Parallel Hybrid Electric drive system.
The system will initially be aimed at the UK Inland Waterways market with the public launch scheduled for this years Crick show (May 24-26) but it is expected to be rolled out to the wider market at Southampton International Boat Show in September.
The company claims it will be the most technically advanced and cost effective Parallel Hybrid solution available - and can be fitted to a new vessel during construction or retrofitted to an existing diesel installation.
Graeme Hawksley, managing director of Hybrid-Marine, said: "After committing five years of my life to designing and developing what I believe to be some of the most innovative Hybrid Electric drive systems currently available, I am delighted to be partnering with a company as well respected and forward thinking as Beta Marine.
“The combination of the core competencies of Beta Marine and those at Hybrid-Marine will make us a formidable force in this market area. This collaboration will enable us to bring to the mass market fully integrated, cost effective, off the shelf hybrid systems.”
Rather than replacing the vessel's standard diesel engine, Parallel Hybrids are designed to compliment it. This approach provides a failsafe should either the diesel engine or the electric drive fail.
The Parallel approach allows the boat owner to select either the silent and clean electric drive or for more testing conditions - big seas and tides - the more powerful traditional diesel drive.
When using the diesel engine for propulsion the electric motor automatically becomes a generator recharging the batteries but also loading the diesel engine beyond the propulsion load to a point of greater operating efficiency.
This increases the vessel's range for a given fuel capacity, says the company.
“Furthermore, for a sailing vessel under sail the propeller can (at the owner's discretion) be allowed to rotate, again providing a generator function for recharging batteries.
“Additional system functionality allows the system to be used as a standalone diesel generator, thus removing the need for the owner to purchase a separate expensive, bulky and heavy diesel generator.”
For the past 5 years Hybrid-Marine has been researching the use of hybrid/electric technology in small marine craft. Part of this work has been funded by a grant from the DTI under its Smart Award scheme.
The parallel hybrid system is the first commercial product to come from this research.
“This low cost/high feature hybrid offers the industry a step change in sophistication and ease of use,” says the company.
For further information visit www.hybrid-marine.co.uk
