A high-tech hybrid engine
The Germans from Arens Motors were exhibiting at the METS Trade 2022 international equipment show with a hybrid combustion-electric engine model that stood out in the aisles. The Berlin-based company has worked for eight years on the development of their engine, combining an 11 kW combustion engine capable of running on gasoline, diesel or even methanol with an electric motor and a 5 kW electric motor. Thanks to modern carburetion systems directly in the combustion chamber and high pressure injection, it is enough to change the electronic card, without touching the mechanics to change the fuel.
A belt drive
The Arens Motors engine does not have a reverser. The transmission to the propeller shaft line is by belt. Lars Arens, founding engineer explains: "To take the boat in reverse, the engine turns in the other direction. The belt limits vibration and noise. Maintenance is simple, about every 500 hours or every five years."
The engine developed by Arens Motors is a true parallel hybrid, capable of operating in pure thermal, pure electric, as a generator for the batteries, in hydrogeneration and in booster mode by adding the power of both engines. Lars Arens emphasizes: "We then reach 16kW."
A market in the repowering of boats
By working on the systems, the German engine manufacturer has succeeded in offering a compact and lightweight solution. The system weighs 65 kilos, of which only 32 kilos are for the thermal part.
Lars Arens says that he is able to meet many requests from boaters: "My belief is that we need smaller engines on boats, not big engines from land vehicles. There is a big market for small power for refit, with compact solutions to fit on board. There is also an original equipment market."
The company has set itself a production rate of about 30 units per year, and is looking for industrial partners for this. The cost of the engine is around 15 000 ê for 16 kW, in the average of the estimations of the European Commission of 800 euros to 1 000 euros per kW in hybrid.
