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Hybrid architecture
The two shuttles have a classic silhouette for this type of tourist craft: 18.89 metres long, 5.80 metres wide, drawing 1.41 metres of water and capable of carrying up to 147 passengers. But it's under the hood that things are changing. Each shaft line is equipped with a diesel engine coupled to a 75 kW electric motor developed by Transfluid, for a parallel hybrid propulsion system.
The electric motor, mounted on the transmission via a belt and hydraulic coupling, can propel the unit alone at low speed, back up the combustion engine at full load, or act as an on-board generator to recharge the batteries.
Quiet, zero-emission and easy to maneuver
In electric mode, navigation is virtually silent. This makes all the difference, especially in harbors, nature reserves or when approaching creeks, where silence is part of the experience. Low-speed steering is more precise, with immediate engine response and constant torque. For maneuvers or stopovers, this is a significant comfort for crews.
Passengers enjoy views without the roar of a diesel, or perceptible vibrations on board. For operators, it's a solution that meets the growing requirements for emissions in ports and protected areas.
A modular, retrofittable solution
Unlike Transfluid's "classic" HM system, which is fitted between the combustion engine and gearbox, this belt-driven version offers greater assembly flexibility. It can be adapted more easily to existing shells, particularly in configurations where machine space is at a premium.
This modularity opens up the possibility of retrofitting existing vessels, by replacing or complementing existing engines, while retaining the original propulsion chain.
Controlled, uncompromising performance
Switching between internal combustion and electric modes is seamless, thanks to centralized electronic management. Autonomy in electric mode enables short trips, typical of tourist shuttles between ports or to coastal anchorages. If necessary, the internal combustion engines take over, supported by the electric motor for extra torque.
It's this operational flexibility that convinces shipping operators, who are often confronted with multiple constraints: noise, pollution, reliability, service availability.
Transfluid: hybrid without words, but with results
Transfluid already equips numerous vessels around the world, but these two units illustrate a concrete evolution in hybrid motorization: it is no longer a prototype, but a production tool in daily service. Here, on the French coast, the Italian company is demonstrating that innovation can be integrated without disrupting habits, while bringing immediate gains in comfort, fuel consumption and environmental impact.
These two new units illustrate a fundamental trend in the professional yachting and tourist transport sectors: hybrids are no longer just a buzzword. It equips, propels and gently transforms the maritime landscape. And sometimes, progress starts with less noise.
