Yanmar diesel engine paired with Transfluid Hybrid propulsion system

Yanmar Marine has revealed its new diesel engine, the 6LY440, which is assembled with Transfluid’s hybrid propulsion system, following one year on a test bench and one year of trials on board the Yanmar EX38 single-screw sport-fishing cruiser in the Sea of Japan.

Unveiled at the 2018 Japan International Boat Show in Yokohama earlier this month, the 6LY440 is a 5.8-litre six-cylinder engine rated at 324kW at 3,300rpm. Transfluid’s HM2000-40 parallel system comes equipped with a 40kW permanent-magnet electric motor, a 2:1 ratio marine transmission and a DNV GL type-approved LiFePO4 battery that produces 19.2kWh of energy at 96V DC.

The joint system offers several operational modes, including electric, diesel, booster (diesel-electric) and battery recharge. Transitions from electric to diesel mode and vice versa are automatic and can be performed independently of the vessel’s speed. All commands are integrated into a Transfluid-supplied control lever.

The system can help provide redundancy for boats in especially difficult deep-sea areas. According to Transfluid, it is ready for installation on board all pleasure and commercial vessels. In addition to the Japanese domestic market, Yanmar plans to sell the technology around the Pacific and along the USA’s west coast.