Sustainable Passenger Service on the Grand Canal in Venice
Climate change and energy transition are among the greatest challenges of our time. Under the motto “We ensure that systems work better.” we, as a technology company, are also making our contribution to global decarbonization by entering the market for hybrid and electric drives and have already successfully implemented a wide variety of projects in this area - a major step that is in line with VULKAN's sustainable corporate policy and its self-image as a system supplier and problem solver. For example, VULKAN is part of a major investment project for sustainable mobility in the Venice lagoon: In collaboration with the local public transportation company ACTV, VULKAN Italia has carried out the first retrofit of a passenger ship that is sailing again on the Grand Canal.
Hybrid shipping will revolutionize the maritime industry by combining traditional fuel engines with advanced hybrid/electric propulsion systems. These vessels will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption, making maritime transport eco-friendly and more efficient. The future of hybrid and full electric shipping promises a greener, smarter, and more sustainable maritime industry, paving the way for a cleaner and more efficient global trade network. To achieve this goal, VULKAN has a team of mechanical and electric engineers that has deepened its expertise in hybrid and electric propulsion systems through the development of several projects featuring different hybrid architectures.
First Hybrid Retrofit Project for VULKAN Italia
Thanks to its expertise in the field of hybrid propulsion, VULKAN Italia with its Hybrid and Electric Solutions Team was awarded the first hybrid retrofit project by ACTV in mid-2022, with an option to retrofit nine more vaporetti. Built in 1982, the 23-meter-long Motorboat 3 was equipped with a traditional propulsion system that included a 147 kW diesel engine that provided the propeller's propulsion power. This drive was to be replaced by a serial hybrid drive to reduce pollutant emissions (NOx, HC, CO, PM).
The project comprized the detailed design and structural readjustment due to the new on-board systems (in particular the serial hybrid system and the corresponding accessories), the installation of the hybrid architecture and the subsequent operational tests as well as sea trials.
Complete Separation between Energy Sources and Consumers
The new hybrid drive consists of two subsystems - energy generation and propulsion. This includes a customized 125 kW variable speed generator based on a Stage V diesel engine, 8 LFP battery modules connected to the main DC switchboard via DC/DC converters, and a 147 kW electric motor to run the propulsion system.
“The serial hybrid drive designed and installed by VULKAN in ACTV's vaporetto offers propulsion system flexibility resulting from the complete separation between energy sources and consumers,” says Andrea Vianello, Head of Project Management and responsible for the project” In this way the hybrid drive optimizes the performance of the combustion engine and improves its efficiency.”
The new drive system is therefore characterized by the following advantages:
- Significantly reduced pollutant emissions (-23 %), measured both on test bench and in navigation
- Reduced vibrations
- Increased ride comfort
The retrofitted passenger ship was handed over to ACTV and has been back in passenger service on the Grand Canal at the beginning of 2025.