Volvo Penta Debuts Fully Electric IPS Marine Propulsion System

Volvo Penta has announced the launch of a fully electric marine propulsion range.

The announcement marks a significant investment in the company's overall product offering which spans large portions of both the recreational and commercial market. The new Electric IPS range will build upon the Volvo Penta IPS platform and is designed to deliver greater efficiency, precision, and flexibility to the marine commercial sector.

The IPS Electric (E) range will have five different drivelines and is set to complement the existing hybrid electric (H) solutions introduced in early 2025. Together, the two platforms will offer customers a new array of propulsion options tailored to different needs.

“We have built up strong expertise based on 20 years of efficient operation with more than 40,000 Volvo Penta IPS drivelines in operation, as well as recent successful market pilots in marine electrification,” said Anna Müller, President of Volvo Penta, in a press release.

“Our aim with this new range is to deliver a plug-and-play electric propulsion solution, keeping the uniqueness of our core competence, but also designed to scale together with 3rd party integrators.”

In the new electric IPS system, the electric motor will be directly coupled to the Volvo Penta IPS driveline and will be available in twin, triple, or quadruple configurations. The setup allows a broader range of vessels to benefit from the advantages of the IPS platform, which includes Electronic Vessel Control (EVC), forward-facing propulsion, and greater maneuverability.

Arguably the most standout feature of the new electric system will be its forward-facing propulsion, which pulls rather than pushes vessels through the water. When combined with electric motors, the configuration is designed to provide a high-efficiency, zero-emission solution.

Volvo Penta will begin rolling out the new lineup in Q4 2025, starting with the IPS900E model (up to 515 kW) and followed by additional models like the IPS650E (up to 374 kW). The full range will eventually span power outputs from 220 kW to 1.1 MW per driveline, and up to 4.5 MW in quad configurations.

The new electric range also includes complete “helm-to-propeller” functionality, which includes premium features like Joystick Driving, Dynamic Positioning, Autopilot, and Assisted Docking. A fully integrated Human-Machine Interface (HMI) allows for intuitive operation and system monitoring via the Energy Management System (EMS). Drive modes include Pure Electric, Hybrid Electric, and Hybrid Fuel.

To support the electric drivelines, Volvo Penta will also provide a lineup of marine generators — both fixed and variable speed — as a means to provide both scalable energy and backup power. The generators ensure redundancy, optimize uptime, and extend service intervals by automatically balancing power demands and operational hours.

The new electric IPS driveline is also designed to be scalable and modular. Volvo Penta is collaborating with third-party integrators to develop complete electric systems that include propulsion packages, energy storage systems (ESS), marine gensets, DC grid infrastructure, and EMS, thus creating a complete electric offering without any supplemental power or backup sources.

“We believe our new electric marine propulsion range will be a winning combination – uniting the efficiency of Volvo Penta IPS and qualified integrators’ expertise,” added Müller. “We look forward to groundbreaking collaboration to bring this game-changing marine technology to life.” #news #products #volvopenta