The long standing collaboration between the Austrian companies STEYR MOTORS (www.steyr-motors.com) and Frauscher Bootswerft (www.frauscherboats.com) has now resulted in the exciting commercial launch of the worldwide first serial Hybrid Propulsion system for boats for recreational boats at “Marine boot Düsseldorf” in January 2008.

Frauscher’s extensive experience with electric and combustion engines as well as 80years of boat building expertise, have been of significant value to STEYR MOTORS and the development process.

The environmentally friendly hybrid solution marks a new chapter in the history of pleasure boat propulsion. It not only assures zero emission and low speed manoeuvring in harbours, noiseless drive on inland waters and nature reserves, but also eliminates the need for separate generator for boat units for other onboard marine equipment. The “zero emission” electric drive mode allows for a speed of 5 knots using solely electric propulsion and marine switches to the combustion engine for boats with an easy turn of the ignition key. The ingenious propulsion then gets “boosted” by the electric drive and secures a quicker acceleration into the planning phase lowering fuel consumption and improving response and dynamics.

The unique configuration of the hybrid propulsion will immediately allow Frauscher to seamlessly equip all of their stylish leisure boats with the sustainable innovation.

Frauscher Bootswerft, Susanne Schirl, susanne.schirl@bootswerft.at +43 7612 636 55 0