Nimbus and Torqeedo team up for hybrid boat project

A Nimbus 365 Coupe will be fitted with a Torqeedo electric engine as part of the Deep Blue hybrid boat project on Lake Starnberg

Nimbus and Torqeedo have collaborated on a hybrid boat project, which will undergo 1-2 years of testing on Germany’s Lake Starnberg.

The partnership will see a Nimbus 365 Coupe (pictured above) fitted with an inboard Torqeedo electric engine to test the viability of a hybrid boat.

Joacim Gustavsson, chief designer at Nimbus, explained: “Our intention is to build 2-3 boats for customers equipped with the Deep Blue Hybrid System during Autumn 2015.

“We are super excited to invigorate the E-Power Concept which represents our environmental thinking for the future.”

The company has targeted Germany and Switzerland as two major markets that could be won over by the prospect of a hybrid boat, as both countries have heavy restrictions on engine sizes for motor boats used on inland waterways and lakes.

Other potential uses for this technology could include water taxis, workboats and government patrol vessels, the company adds.

Nimbus is not the first marine firm to investigate hybrid boat technology – Seaway has made big strides in this area with its Greenline range of 33ft, 40ft, and 48ft hybrid yachts.

However, the tie-up between Nimbus and Torqeedo is particularly encouraging as the German firm is the market leader in electric outboards, with more than 50,000 units sold in the last 10 years.