Clean Hybrid Alternative Marine Powertrains Project led by Mathwall Marine

08/07/2022

Mathwall Marine are passionate about protecting the environment, particularly where we know that we can easily make a difference by deploying proven technologies across sectors.

Mathwall Marine have built strong technical and commercial foundations in mechanical and automotive engineering and bring this wealth of experience into the marine industry with a passion to achieve or improve on the Government’s targets.

The CHAMP Project (Clean Hybrid Alternative Marine Powertrains) led by Mathwall Marine, and funded by Innovate UK as part of the Government’s Clean Marine Demonstration Competition, aims to demonstrate the potential performance that can be achieved with the introduction of hybrid technology in recreational, defence and small to medium-sized commercial vessels.

The Project has resulted in a proof-of-concept Demonstrator allowing us to validate the approach of transferring technology from automotive into marine.

Project Deliverables

Mathwall Marine have designed a unique architecture and control strategy that provides leading levels of sustainable operation, whilst allowing access to the high-performance potential of a hybrid powertrain. The project has delivered on:

Validating the role of hybrid powertrains in marine markets and evaluated technical and commercial feasibility of our proposed architecture.
Developed, manufactured and demonstrated key technologies that enable deployment of a hybrid solution.
Supported the design process with digital engineering tools and techniques, plus rig-based validation, allowing programme timing to be significantly compressed.
Delivered a technical demonstration rib, validating project concept targets which attributes ton a suitably challenging real-world setting.
Investigated and demonstrated an operational model, allowing a recreational boat club to deliver services in a carbon neutral environment.
Created a roadmap that helps industry achieve electric and zero carbon propulsion, including the commercial strategy for interfacing with global boat manufacturers and system integrators. We have enabled the UK marine powertrain industry to position itself as the premiere supplier of technology and products for hybrid and zero emission marine solutions. CHAMP aims to build sovereign capability and position the project partners at the forefront of sustainable propulsion in marine applications.

We have demonstrated

Complex Control SystemAllows for the optimum use of battery power and methanol based on how an Operator intends to use the Boat using real-time data and feeding back to allow for offline monitoring and future improvements.
Hybrid Drive SystemThe technology of both an Internal Combustion Engine and a Pure Electric Drive gives the benefit of both technologies to achieve a power, lower CO2 emissions and range of use that could not be achieved by either technology on their own.Using a 63kw Battery, the Boat has a range of up to 30 nautical miles in full electric mode and with a 420lt Methanol Fuel capacity 230 nautical miles range is easily achievable with zero carbon emissions and up to 360 nautical miles in eco mode.
Flex FuelMethanol is an environmentally sustainable fuel source which is identified on the Government’s Maritime Plan, but at present has limited supply dockside. By calibrating the engine to be able to run on pure Methanol or Gasoline or any blend of the two, reduces the issue of methanol not being available dockside. This technology can be rolled out immediately even though access to methanol dockside is still limited at this time.
Halfboard ConceptImproved Hull efficiency with a drag reduction of up to 28%, giving the retrofit and serviceability of outboard engines with the performance of inboard engines.