BMEA

As part of its ongoing mission to develop and open up the hybrid marine market, the Dutch-based specialist, Mastervolt, has become an active member of the HyMar project. Mastervolt are committed pioneers in this field and are determined to pull the market forward.

HyMar (Hybrid Marine Systems) is a collaboration and research project funded by the EU, with the aim of developing a common design platform for all marine electrical drive systems of displacement vessels up to 24 metres.

Currently, the main problem in this emerging industry is that there is no commonality. Boatbuilders have a bewildering choice of systems, batteries and incompatible controllers, with some installations much more efficient than others.

By calling together top marine manufacturers with a reputation for excellence, HyMar is actively developing a range of hybrid systems with a common design principle. Mastervolt, a global leader in off-grid energy systems, is working alongside other cutting edge companies such as Bosch Engineering, Steyr Diesel and Bruntons Propellers to create equipment that will be industry compliant, whatever the supplier. 

The end result of this collaboration will be an ‘open systems’ architecture that will not only provide highly efficient electrical drives, but also make hybrid propulsion available to the widest possible market.

Because HyMar is co-ordinating the entire package, from batteries to propellers, there are some exciting technological developments in the pipeline. Mastervolt, a pioneer of advanced electrical conversion systems, has a key role in HyMar’s energy control initiatives.

Whilst hybrid platform will be based on 144V DC, the other systems on a boat will require far different voltages. Managing complex power demands is a speciality at Mastervolt, and its research facility in Amsterdam is now developing a new range of power conversion devices to handle these needs with a minimal loss of current.

“It’s very exciting to be invited to join such an important project,” explained Marc Persoon, Mastervolt’s Marketing Manager. “We are collaborating with major companies such as Bosch and Steyr to produce a universal ‘plug and play’ platform for electrical propulsion. The results will iron out the disparate nature of the industry, and take electrical drive technology into a new era of rapid development. We’re proud that our long experience of managing complex power systems is at the core of this project.”

Mastervolt’s recent overhaul of its entire power generation and supply technology to make it ‘hybrid ready’ means that the company is also poised to be a major supplier of HyMar-compatible equipment in the future.

More information about HyMar, which is funded under the EU’s Seventh Framework Research programme, can be found at http://hymar.org