At the Cannes Yachting Festival 2019 Volvo Penta allowed us to test a new electric motor solution installed on a Fountaine Pajot Lucia 40 catamaran . This was a prototype developed by the group. Although Volvo is a specialist in internal combustion engines, it believes that other areas of development should be sought. In less than 10 years, we were told internally, all Volvo marine engines will be electric or hybrid..
The Lucia 40 in our test is equipped with 2 electric motors of 15 kW mounted on a saildrive transmission. This is similar to the transmission that is also found on diesel. Only the propellers are suitable for the engine speed (max. 200 rpm) and torque.
With the 2 x 20 kWh battery fleet (Li-ion batteries), the announced range is 27 M at 5 knots or 17 M at 6 knots. The maximum speed is close to 8 knots. The battery pack was installed in each engine hold in front of the sail drive. For Fountaine Pajot, the installation of the electric motors did not require any modifications to the boat since the motor and battery replace the diesel ones and the sail drive is identical, installed in the same place.
To recharge this battery park, you can either connect to the dock (charging time 3h) or use a generator (2 x 7.2 kW).
Acceleration and torque
At the helm, the feeling is surprising. We start by casting off from the dock while no engine noise announces that we are ready to set sail. Just touch the electric controls to accelerate quickly. The high torque of electric motors is really felt during acceleration. Manoeuvring the Lucia 40 is really easy to stop the wandering or to rotate it on the spot. While sailing, only the propeller noise and the vibrations of the sail drive can be heard, but nothing else.
A complete system
More than just an electric motor, Volvo has tried to think of the system as a whole, in all the boat's energy needs for example, the battery park allows the air conditioning to run for an entire night without the need for a generator. A plus for comfort at night.
The electrical system is managed on the control screen (a Garmin plotter). We find all the data to monitor its power consumption and the state of its batteries in order to manage its autonomy as well as possible.
A prototype, but after that?
For the moment this Lucia 40 electric motorized is a demonstrator. It should remain at the prototype stage. It allowed the development team to take into account the electrical needs on board this type of cruise unit and to propose a solution still in development. But there is no doubt that this test was not just a sword in the water and that other commercialized solutions will quickly emerge.
