Volvo Penta, Beneteau launch hybrid motor yacht of the future

The concept adopts Volvo Penta’s helm-to-propeller hybrid engine technology developed for its commercial inboard engines but with a focus on making it much quieter and easier to use.

The concept boat, a Jeanneau NC 37 sedan from the French brand’s new family of inboard pocket cruisers, uses a pair of Volvo Penta D4-320 DPI Aquamatic 2.7-litre in-line four-cylinder diesel engines. It is a similar hybrid system to one that Volvo Penta installed in a boat built specifically for a commercial tourism company in 2021.

Few details have been released about the recreational motor yacht’s engine set-up, although it uses a parallel hybrid system that will allow the motor yacht to run on the electric motor, the diesel engine, or a combination of both.

When it announced the trial, Volvo Penta said the system would be integrated with its joystick docking and dynamic positioning system, which would be adapted to work in electric mode. 

“This demo boat will also feature added maneuverability, a hydraulic clutch for silent shifting at low engine speeds, and greater control thanks to the precise joystick functionality,” it said.

Diesel-electric hybrid drivelines are nothing new in motor yachts, with several rival brands offering their products with everything from conventional engines all the way to fully electric systems.

However, once the kinks in the recreational application of Volvo Penta’s hybrid drivetrains are ironed out, Beneteau will be one of the largest boat-builders globally to offer an alternative to pure fossil fuel-based technology.

The Jeanneau NC 37 is a good test platform for Volvo Penta’s hybrid technology. Basically a pocket-sized cruiser with up to three cabins and sleeping up to eight people, it’s a product aimed squarely at families.

Electrification allows the Jeanneau NC 37 to slip in and out of marinas silently and without emitting emissions. Out on the water, the electric drivetrain can assist the diesel engines to power the motor yacht up onto the plane, helping to cut fuel use in what is normally the most fuel-heavy phase.