MAN enters hybrid superyacht propulsion market with integrated solution

MAN Engines – a Business Unit of MAN Truck & Bus, known for its maritime diesel engines, has entered the market for integrated hybrid solutions with a splash. The recently launched design for the Benetti B.Neos marks two firsts: Benetti’s first-ever hybrid as standard superyacht, and MAN’s first deployment of its Smart Hybrid Experience on a superyacht. It likely won’t be the last, as the system marks the next step in superyacht engineering and technology for MAN.

What distinguishes the MAN Smart Hybrid Experience is the integration of diesel and electric drives in a way that allows the system to be connected to the vessel's total electrical infrastructure, powering both propulsion and the hotel load. The integration extends to the user interface as well, where a captain can easily switch between diesel and electric power without noticeable disturbance to guests or crew — hence the “experience”.

^{The Smart Hybrid Experience by MAN neatly combines diesel and electric motors while allowing for power distribution throughout the superyacht} 

The Smart Hybrid Experience pairs a MAN diesel engine with a coupling, electric motor, and gearbox. It also integrates power production and distribution between the drivetrain and hotel load.

“I think Benetti chose the Smart Hybrid Experience because we will deliver a fully integrated system, and we had done a lot of work before on our test bench. And the whole system comes from one company — they do not have any other suppliers for the system,” says Johannes Kleesattel, Design Engineer for MAN Engines. The 40-metre Benetti B.Neos is equipped with twin MAN V8-800 engines – each with 200 kW electrical motors - with the Smart Hybrid Experience.  

The test bench at MAN is a working mock-up of a vessel engine room that allows engineers to check power outputs and inputs under various parameters and loads before actually deploying the equipment at sea. The test bench can encompass a vessel’s entire powertrain, including related electrical components, and features a 400 kW power source that acts as a theoretical battery bank. Kleesattel notes that the entire system had been rigorously tested prior to its initial deployment.

“The system is not just a hybrid propulsion system,” says Georg Silberhorn, System and Function Developer at MAN. “We also considered in our design phase that you need to distribute energy on board. We were designing an integrated powertrain and a modular design system for the controls, as well as for the energy distribution on the high-voltage side.”

Silberhorn adds that this level of design and integration places MAN firmly in the realm of energy management and integration, as well as power generation.

^{Initial design focused on a centralised design, with later iterations moving to a modular design for future-proofing}

Design work on the Smart Hybrid System began in 2020 in response to superyacht clients demanding “green yachts”, access to zero-emission zones, and noise reduction, especially in hotel mode. The electric motor was developed by a German supplier working directly with MAN to create an electric motor specifically tailored for MAN.

The first phase of design began with a highly centralized system, but as new iterations were developed, the architecture became more decentralized and modular to accommodate different operational profiles and segments, according to Silberhorn. The shift to modular development required matching software engineering to effectively manage power inputs and outputs.

Part of how the Smart Hybrid Experience helps superyacht owners achieve reduced emissions is by lowering the overall power required for a vessel. Silberhorn points out that by drawing power from a drivetrain that is integrated with electrical distribution, less total installed power may be required. “When you have a generator set, for example, on board and also a battery, you do not need to size them both to the maximum output in order to achieve top speed,” he says.

MAN’s design thinking also extends to the Human-Machine Interface (HMI). The system allows operators to switch seamlessly between diesel, electric, or a combined mode. During acceleration, electric motors can automatically provide a boost that cuts diesel consumption. If, on the other hand, the battery bank is running low, the system can automatically begin charging off the diesel powertrain.

^{Benetti opted for the MAN Smart Hybrid Experience for its first-ever Hybrid as standard propulsion yacht, B.Neos - Image courtesy Benetti}

MAN currently produces its Smart Hybrid Experience across six-cylinder, V8, and V12 engines, with its newer engine, the V12X, due to be adapted to the Smart Hybrid System. MAN intends to pair more of its diesel engines with its Smart Hybrid Systems in future to support clients building yachts and superyachts.

Benetti is the first to design and sell a superyacht with MAN’s Smart Hybrid System, but a spokesperson for MAN confirms that talks with other superyacht builders are underway.

^{All images unless otherwise noted are courtesy MAN}