Industrial Automation Magazine India

FPT Industrial and Sealence: The future of marine propulsion sets off from CES 2022

Published on : Saturday 08-01-2022

FPT Industrial and Sealence have decided to join forces to explore a real, sustainable revolution in marine propulsion systems.

January 07, 2022 – Busy marinas full of motor yachts and boats setting off on long, medium and short-range trips, with plenty of excitement, but no noise at all. Is this only a futuristic scenario? Actually it could be imminent thanks to the vision of FPT Industrial and Sealence, which, together, are presenting their innovative Hybrid Electric Marine Propulsion System Concept for leisure and commercial vessels at CES 2022.

Following the signing of a Letter of Intent, FPT Industrial and Sealence, a startup based in Buccinasco (Milan, Italy) – whose mission is to move the marine industry towards a more environmentally conscious approach – have decided to join forces to explore a real, sustainable revolution in marine propulsion systems. The core of the concept, which is displayed in the Marine Innovation Area of the FPT Industrial’s new 2200 sq ft stand (booth #9643 North Hall) at CES 2022, is the DeepSpeed Jet, a turn-key solution addressing the challenge of electrification in marine propulsion.

Shaped to externally resemble an aviation jet, through an integrated electric motor it sucks the water from the front and pushes it from the bow side to propel the boat. The energy for the electric motor is supplied by batteries that can be recharged on board by the FPT Industrial N67 570 EVO engine, coupled with a state-of-the-art variable generator, or by the charging station when the boat is in harbour mode.

A modern take on more than 100 years of technological expertise, the ICE, dialogues with a 30-year-old technology, the batteries, and together they interface with the future to create one of the most efficient, effective, environmentally friendly and silent – when operating in full electric mode – marine propulsion systems.

The new Hybrid Electric system is designed to maximize efficiency, silence, application modularity and flexibility. With the same amount of energy, the DeepSpeed Jet generates more thrust and speed compared to a prop system, while consuming less.

An outboard system positioned directly under the hull, the DeepSpeed Jet offers leisure and commercial vessel builders a number of significant advantages. Only cables run through the hull, since the system installation does not require bulky mechanical connections and interfaces that could impair flexibility.

Since there is no need for transmissions and axles, there is more available space on board, giving shipyards the opportunity to optimise the engine room layout, boat design and internal layout.