ABSTRACT

Based on economic reasoning, there is limited access for watercraft in protected areas. The pollution produced by traditional propulsion systems represents the primary reason for these limitations. The hybrid propulsion system from eco-friendly watercraft developed by the ECO-Boat project will be able to improve the performance related to efficiency and pollution of watercraft that require small or medium power. The propulsion system is designed to be adapted to new or retrofitted watercraft based on a thermal propulsion system and using available modules on the market. The electrical engine coupled with the internal combustion engine will be scaled to give the maximum power required for watercraft propulsion, while the power management system will be designed to meet the electrical power requirements of the watercraft. Through it’s eco-friendly propulsion system, Eco-boat will represent an amazing opportunity to visit fragile, pure and protected ecosystems, usually prohibited for motorized watercrafts while preserving their unique integrity and biodiversity.

Hybrid Propulsion Conceptual Model for Watercraft – Eco-Boat