Magonis, a pure electric boat builder based in Barcelona, has teamed up with Eurecat and IREC to develop custom hydrogen fuel cell technology for their upcoming fleet.
The Catalan Institute for Energy Research (IREC) and the Catalan Technology Centre (Eurecat) have teamed up to cover the battery ecosystem in southern Europe. Magonis Boats, IREC, and Eurecat formed a natural partnership to improve the range of future watercraft while developing sustainable solutions.
A single small boat with a 5 horsepower combustion engine emits the same amount of CO2 as 39 cars on the highway. Without considering the additional destruction caused by oil and motor fluid leaks, emissions have a significant impact on lakes, rivers, and oceans. Over 36 million people in Europe participate in regular leisure boating, and the problem isn’t just big, but getting bigger, with a +10 percent CAGR.
Governments across Europe, where inland waterway navigation is critical, have already implemented new policies and tax incentives for green energy boats in order to reduce pollution and its negative effects on nearby cities, ecosystems, and residents. By the end of the decade, Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, and Rotterdam have ambitious plans to switch to clean-only navigation. The energy sector will improve the lives of millions of people by adopting greener solutions.
Magonis began to gain attention from the growing boat industry with the launch of the all-electric Wave e-550. Magonis enables a full transition to carbon-free water transportation – a sector with an increased social consciousness to sustainability – by developing smart and efficient alternatives to traditional leisure boats. Magonis, in collaboration with IREC and Eurecat, is pushing for technological advancements to spur action across the entire water transportation industry.
IREC and Eurecat have both had great success in transferring their knowledge to the boating industry, and now they are bringing their expertise to this new segment of electric mobility. They pool their expertise to cover the battery value chain through their joint research unit Battech, and bring their experience in sustainable mobility to the partnership with Magonis, opening up a new world of possibilities for electric boats.
Despite the fact that Magonis’ fleet exceeds industry standards, the company is constantly investing in range extension technologies. Electric boats are currently designed for day trips, but a hydrogen fuel cell range extender is a fantastic solution for longer cruising or island hopping. The range gap between combustion and electric engines will continue to narrow as the full benefits of hydrogen fuel cells are realized.
This collaboration also contributes to the European Union’s New Industrial Strategy, the Circular Economy Action Plan, and the Regulatory Framework for Sustainable Batteries, all of which are key actions in the European Green Deal.
