The OXE Hybrid 450 concept engine is said to be the world’s first hybridised diesel outboard in the higher power classes.
Swedish engine maker OXE Marine AB has developed a concept engine with a hybrid drive that combines the diesel drive of OXE Marine’s outboards with an electric drive, giving lower fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.
The OXE Hybrid 450 concept engine is said to be the world’s first hybridised diesel outboard in the higher power classes and had its premiere at the recent Miami International Boat Show. The concept engine is based on OXE Marine’s fuel-efficient diesel outboard OXE300.
Equipping the existing rig with a 400V electric motor connected to a lithium-ion battery means additional fuel savings opportunities are achieved, along with the benefits that pure electric operation offers.
Combined with HVO100 biodiesel, the OXE Hybrid 450 can contribute significantly reduced carbon dioxide emissions compared to a traditional gasoline-fuelled outboard.
Because the electric motor drives the power transmission directly, it can also be used as a generator to charge the battery during diesel operation.
The battery capacity has been sized to enable quiet and completely emission-free operation when visiting a port, fishing, or travelling in waters where fossil-fuelled boats are not allowed.
At the same time, the well-measured capacity and the ability to charge while underway means the battery can power additional, energy-demanding equipment on board.
During the spring, OXE Marine and the boat manufacturer Nimbus Group will conduct field tests of an OXE Hybrid 450 on a Nimbus T9. The plan is to start series production in the second half of 2023.
