1 Reliability
Modern electric motors have one moving part and are highly reliable. High torque at low speed means they drive the propeller shaft directly without a gearbox. The motors run off deep cycle batteries, which are highly reliable and are charged from conventional generators, grid electricity and/or solar power. The generators are easy to access and maintain. In series hybrids if one generator fails, another generator or the batteries can run both motors.

2 Manoeuvrability
High torque direct drive means better acceleration, quicker emergency stopping and easier handling. Electric motors do not stall.

3 Reduces fuel and maintenance costs

The "life costs" of operating a vessel are
the capital cost plus the fuel cost,
plus the maintenance cost, plus downtime costs.

Based on the Sydney Solar Sailor, the Toyota Prius car and other diesel/electric vessels hybrid marine power means 50 - 90% less fuel depending on the application. The "total life" costs are compared in this chart. Assuming operations 14 hours a day 330 days of the year, an operator would save approx. US$6M by using a hybrid as a working ferry over 15 years of operation compared to a conventional vessel. This graph assumes fuel at US40c/litre and no input from solar or wind.

4 Increase patronage
Passenger comfort is increased, due to low noise, vibration and fumes. For example the 'Sydney Solar Sailor' operates in a very competitive market and generates greater revenue than comparable conventional vessels due to greater patronage because of client acceptability, multipurpose use and   "dock appeal".

5 Environmental credentials
Series hybrid vessels exceed all current and proposed regulations. When driving at high speed the hybrid runs the internal combustion engine at optimum efficiency. On average a hybrid urban ferry will produce 50% less emissions. Hybrid also means zero water pollution under all conditions.

Hybrid Marine Power offers access to environmentally sensitive waterways and zero emissions at the wharf (like the hybrid car at the traffic lights).

Diesel Exhaust (DE) consists of fine particles and gases. Fine particles (carbon) cause emphysema, asthma and lung cancer and gases include carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxides of Nitrogen, Nitrogen compounds, Sulphur compounds, Hydrocarbons, Aldehydes, Benzene, 1,3, butadiene, Aromatic Hydrocarbons, and Nitro-PAH's ( Nitropyrene, nitrofluorene and dinitropyrene)(1) and are known to cause lung cancer and other cancers (2,3).

These chemicals are listed in Proposition 65 legislation in California (4). This legislation puts the legal onus of proof on the 'polluter' to prove a chemical did not cause cancer in an individual (as opposed to other way round). The correct dose of diesel exhaust (DE) at a wharf where the particles and gases can accumulate should be zero.   The only technology available to satisfy Proposition 65 today and in the foreseeable future is hybrid. Hybrid technology is also a commercial step to hydrogen fuel cell powered vessels when this technology becomes commercially available.

6 Higher acceptability
Higher acceptability by local constituents and governments for hybrid vessels due to the zero water pollution, zero emissions at the wharf and at low speeds and the general overall quieter and cleaner operations.

1) Michigan Department of Consumer and Industry Services Bureau of Safety and Regulation BSR/CET-970(2/200)

2) US Environmental Protection Agency. Health Assessment Document for Diesel Exhaust. PB 2002 107661 www.epa.gov/ncea>

3) US Environmental Protection Agency. National Centre for Environment Assessment. Washington Office. Carcinogenic Effects of Benzene - an update. EPA/600/p-97/001F April 1998

4) Proposition 65. State Of California Environmental Protection Agency Office Of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Safe Drinking Water And Toxic Enforcement Act Of 1986 Chemicals Known To The State To Cause Cancer Or Reproductive Toxicity July 11, 2003.

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