The news from Volvo Penta is one of those pieces of news destined to leave an indelible mark. It is an important moment not only in the company’s history but also for the entire marine industry in general. The arrival of Volvo Penta’s new IPS platform officially marks the Swedish company’s entry into the high end of the market. (Here all our posts about Volvo Penta)
Volvo Penta IPS for yachts up to 55 metres
The new engines have also been designed around the specific requirements of hulls ranging from 25 to over 55 metres in length. This is an epoch-making leap that is part of a precise strategic vision that began 20 years ago with the entry of this innovative system on the nautical scene. The rest is history. A history marked by a path in which Volvo Penta’s IPS has gradually gained an ever greater space of attention thanks to the enormous benefits in terms of comfort and consumption that the propulsion system guarantees. The arrival of this new solution falls at a particularly important historical moment, especially in view of the enormous efforts that the entire nautical sector is making towards more sustainable mobility at sea.
The new IPS meets the latest IMO Tier III standards
And in this sense the new Volvo Penta IPS platform raises the bar even higher. Not only is it the most powerful version in the Volvo Penta IPS range, but it is also combined with a new, larger transmission, the Volvo Penta IPS 40. The latter is powered by two Volvo Penta D13 engines, combined with a compact aftertreatment system to meet the latest IMO Tier III standards. But the platform is already prepared for a mix of energy sources; from combustion engines powered by e-fuel, to fully electric or hybrid solutions. It all meets the need for maximum flexibility and modularity. The new Volvo Penta IPS professional platform is installed as a double, triple or quad, which means that each boat will have between four and eight power sources. In addition, the propulsion package is compact and positioned far aft. This allows for more space on board for relaxation, crew and cargo. Thanks also to a number of state-of-the-art technical solutions starting with the integrated exhaust system, the platform offers superior on-board comfort, providing up to 50 per cent less perceived noise.
Volvo Penta IPS, 30 per cent less fuel consumption
When it comes to efficiency, the new system is expected to deliver up to 30 per cent savings in fuel consumption and emissions compared to a conventional inboard installation.
Thanks to a new efficiency-oriented function, the system is able to automatically start and stop individual engines according to the power required for each situation, optimising fuel consumption and engine running hours, resulting in longer service and maintenance intervals. The official debut is scheduled for 2025. But the future has already begun.
Matteo Zaccagnino
