Barrus sets up hybrid engine joint venture

Hybrid Marine International will be headed up by Graham Knox, CEO of Barrus, who was only appointed in September 2023, working closely with Graeme Hawksley, engineer at Hybrid Marine.

The two firms have been working together for nearly 14 years, said Karen Clarke, in the marketing department at Barrus, so the joint venture was a natural step.

“We created a new company because we have been bursting at the seams with enquiries,” she said. “This was the natural step in being able to cope with the increased demand, which is coming from all over ther place.

“Boat builders were initially a bit sceptical about all of this but now they are being asked themselves about hybrid systems so they can see the potential. We are trying to position ourselves as being able to offer all types of propulsion, whether it be the conventional ones or new low emissions types.

“We have had a relationship with Graeme for nearly 14 years and with our own brand we’ve also been exploring electric versions as well.”

The two firms have been developing propulsion systems based on Yanmar diesel engines, which they consider ‘a global standard’ in sailboat and small craft propulsion.

“Hybrid Marine International has been established to design, manufacture and sell hybrid propulsion systems for applications including inland canal boats, commercial barges and sailing boats,” said Graham Knox, “The joint venture cements our successful collaboration thus far, and we look forward to working together to unlock the potential of our combined expertise.”

“When we first started investigating marine hybrids, the market for these systems did not exist,” said Graeme Hawksley. “Apart from a few early adopters, hybrids were viewed as blue sky products, something for the future rather than now. Finally, in 2024, ‘the future is now’.

“Our next stage on the journey is to scale up to meet the demand we have helped to generate.

Hybrid Marine International will continue to provide custom packages to OEM boat builders in the UK and across the world who wish to offer hybrid technology to their customers requiring new boat builds in the leisure and commercial markets.”