Venetian vaporetto in hybrid retrofit conversion

FPT Industrial, working in close partnership with Bimotor and Vulkan Italia, has completed the hybrid retrofit of MotoBattello 3, a historic vaporetto boat in Venice’s ACTV-operated public transport fleet. The project, which prepares the vessel for operational testing ahead of its public debut at the 2025 Venice Boat Show, in a move aimed at reducing inland waterway transport emissions.

Carried out at ACTV facilities with support from FPT’s marine specialist network, the refit replaced the vessel’s conventional diesel drivetrain with a serial hybrid system, comprising an FPT Industrial N67 450 N engine paired with a variable-speed generator and battery pack. The configuration powers a 147-kW electric motor responsible for propulsion and onboard loads.

Bench testing by Vulkan Italia and certification by ACTV technicians confirmed less CO₂ reduction of 32%, a 26% reduction in NOx, 31% in particulate matter and 7% in unburned hydrocarbons, yielding a total emissions cut of 28%.

Following the hybridisation of a number of RoRo passenger ferries in recent months, the MotoBattello 3 project confirms the retrofit model as a pathway to fleet decarbonisation among much smaller watercraft, as well, serving as a proof of concept for the refit of historic fleets.

“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,” said Andrea Arcuraci, head of Sales, EMEA Dealers at FPT Industrial. “The future of mobility also depends on the modernisation of existing fleets, and FPT Industrial engines offer an ideal solution for this transition, including in hybrid systems like the MotoBattello 3.”