FPT Industrial, an Iveco Group brand and global leader in low-environmental impact powertrains, is leading a significant technological overhaul in Venice. Alongside its authorized distributor Bimotor and VULKAN Italia, FPT Industrial actively participates in the hybrid retrofit of MotoBattello 3. This vaporetto, or Venetian public waterbus, belongs to transit operator Actv. Operational testing for this first hybrid waterbus begins in the coming weeks, followed by its unveiling at the 2025 Venice Boat Show.
This project offers a concrete example of marine mobility conversion. It showcases a new approach to boating that embraces more sustainable solutions and aims for ever-increasingly reduced environmental impact. The initiative features a system combining a hybrid drive from VULKAN Hybrid and Electric Solutions with FPT Industrial engines. This pioneering retrofit project envisions a future for the sector. It passes through modernization of existing fleets, drastically reducing emissions.
Advanced Hybrid System for Iconic Waterways
The refitting of the MotoBattello 3 Series 80 Canal Grande significantly revolutionized the vessel’s powertrain. Engineers replaced its original diesel engine with a serial hybrid system. This system comprises an auxiliary FPT Industrial N67 450 N variable speed engine. This engine couples to a variable speed generator integrated with a battery pack, featuring eight LFP modules. The energy produced powers a 147 kW electric motor. This motor handles the boat’s propulsion and auxiliary loads. Notably, the N67 engine achieves Stage V compliance without needing an exhaust after-treatment system (ATS).
Measurements and certifications conducted during bench testing by VULKAN Italia, and verified by Actv technicians, confirm substantial pollutant reductions. The new propulsion solution achieves a 32% reduction in carbon dioxide (CO), a 26% reduction in nitrogen oxides (NOx), a 31% reduction in particulate matter (PM), and a 7% reduction in unburned hydrocarbons (HC). This results in a total emission reduction of 28%. The new MotoBattello 3 powertrain will serve as a pilot project. It forms part of Actv’s lagoon fleet modernization plan, thus opening a new chapter of navigation in Venetian waters, a crucial element of the city’s identity.
Reliable Power and Comprehensive Support
NEF engines represent one of FPT Industrial’s most important marine legacies. This product family is the brand’s most extensive for the segment. Available in both mechanical and electronic versions, they serve recreational and professional applications. Power outputs range from 74 kW to 419 kW and from 63 kW to 390 kW, respectively. At the Industrial & Marine plant in Turin, FPT Industrial marinizes these engines with a tailor-made approach. This meets the needs of a wide range of different applications.
Specifically, the N67 engine guarantees vital reliability and performance. This 6-cylinder, 6.7-liter unit features a TCA turbocharger and Common Rail injection, delivering up to 170 hp at 2300 rpm. With a dry weight of 600 kg, these characteristics are essential for continuous usage in public transport applications. Advanced diagnostics systems and low maintenance requirements, with oil and filter change intervals of up to 600 hours, minimize downtime and costs. Furthermore, FPT Industrial’s Customer Service team guides every customer throughout their engines’ service life. They help achieve perfect performance and optimize repair and support processes.
Venice Public TransportActv will also receive support for N67 engine maintenance from Bimotor’s Marghera site. Bimotor, FPT Industrial’s authorized distributor, dedicates its services entirely to marine applications. It offers customers a highly specialized facility where experience, reliability, and expertise converge to provide a complete service. This ranges from sales and warehouse management of engines and spare parts to technical support, an internal workshop, and the overhauling of heat exchangers and radiators.
A Vision for Future Mobility
Andrea Arcuraci, Head of Sales, EMEA Dealers at FPT Industrial, commented on the project: “This project perfectly exemplifies how FPT Industrial engines can play a leading role in the technological renewal of a wide range of applications, including on-road, off-road, marine, and power generation. Breathing new life into historic vessels such as those in the City of Venice’s fleet—integral to the city’s worldwide beauty and identity—is a source of great pride for us.” He added: “The future of mobility also depends on the modernization of existing fleets, and FPT Industrial engines offer an ideal solution for this transition, including in hybrid systems like the MotoBattello 3. Such projects are made possible thanks to the commitment of our distributor network, which ensures comprehensive, continuous support, fully tailored to meet each customer’s specific requirements.”
