Ecolux 850 Hybrid, eco-friendly innovation

Ecolux 850 Hybrid, flagship of Ecoline Marine, combines technology and sustainability

Ecoline Marine is a range of innovative, eco-friendly, affordable and reliable electric and hybrid boats: what more could you ask for?

The project was conceived and promoted by engineer Fausto Colombi, founder of Cantieri di Sarnico and later plant manager and construction coordinator at the hystoric Cantieri Riva. His experience has enabled him to create an innovative product: Ecolux 850 Hybrid, a 8-meter day cruiser and flagship of the Ecoline shipyard that combines cutting-edge technology and total respect of the marine environment. Engineer Colombi, assisted by his pupil and young designer Marino Alfani (already designer of the Rio Daytona 34), has come up with an electric boat that can go from zero to eight knots and can navigate in protected areas or manoeuvre in harbours in the spirit of an ecofriendly philosophy. Of course, as Nicolas Küpfer, Ecoline’s engineer, export and marketing manager, says, all this is based on a strong nautical expertise and “know-how”.

The standard version is fitted with a 170 Kw 330HP turbodiesel outboard with Mercruiser drive. The hybrid top-of-the-range unit exhibited at the Venice Boat Show is powered by an endothermic engine coupled with an electric 30 kW electric motor (the 20 kW is the stardard option), two LiNMC 13.14 Kwh batteries, accessories and painted mahogany details. The shipyard offers three propulsion options: full diesel, full electric and Hybrid. Moreover, the day cruiser comes equipped with two comfortable seats, a table or a lounge.

The dry displacement is 2,800 kg but can change depending on the configuration, including batteries and fuel tank.

Clearly, weight affects cruising speed: in electric mode at 3 knots, the boat has a range of 200 minutes; at 6 knots 60 minutes for the basic 20 kW version.

The batteries are recharged either from the dockside charging station or from the engine itself; there is no boost version, which is often found in hybrid systems. The diesel/electric coupling is on axis; when the diesel engine is running, the electric motor itself becomes an alternator and charges the batteries.

When more power and speed are needed, the owner can turn off the electric motor and start the diesel engine to cruise up to 35 knots; the semi-displacement hull, with a knife-edge bow, cuts through waves so that they do not impact and is optimized for low-speed craft, designed to reduce hydrodynamic drag as much as possible. With the same hull line, Ecoline also designs lookouts for some foreign law enforcement agencies: the request is for hybrid boats that mount engines and propellers adjustable in height on sliding guides to adapt to shallow waters and allow efficient manoeuvring.

In order to keep weight low, the fuel tank has a capacity of just 110 liters. However, the owner can opt for larger tanks. It’s just a matter of fine tuning.

The hull construction is entirely in fiberglass, completely laminated in-house, as is the making of the moulds, the carpentry and the painting. Production time for the 850 Hybrid is around six months, the yard is small and artisanal and has a maximum capacity of 10 boats a year.

If you want to admire this innovative boat and see its features first-hand, the Ecoline will be exhibited at the next Cannes Yachting Festival.

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