Team Malizia, led by skipper Boris Herrmann, has unveiled a new hybrid-electric propulsion and energy system aboard its IMOCA 60 race yacht, Malizia – Seaexplorer.
The yacht is due to compete in the The Ocean Race Europe which starts in August 2025, and will be the one of the first in the IMOCA class to integrate an electric drive system.
The custom setup centers on the 48 volt Molabo ARIES i50 electric inboard motor which is powered by the company’s patented ISCAD (Intelligent Stator Cage Drive) technology.
The motor is paired with Malizia – Seaexplorer’s Solbian solar panels and Watt and Sea hydrogenerators, a new high-capacity battery bank from Solid State Marine and a new Fischer Panda generator certified to run on hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO).
“We asked ourselves: How can we race around the world on a high-tech yacht without the use of fossil fuels and at the same time improve performance?” explained Boris.
We are proud to lead that step towards more sustainable offshore racing.
Boris Herrmann
“This system is our answer. It’s lighter, cleaner, and lets us maximize our renewable sources of energy.
“This is one of the most exciting upgrades to the boat and we are proud to lead that step towards more sustainable offshore racing.”
Team Malizia says the system offers several advantages over traditional diesel propulsion including lighter weight, increased energy storage, and extended silent operation.
“Our goal is to meet the IMOCA rule requirements while building the lightest, cleanest, and most efficient yacht possible,” said Team Malizia’s Jesse Newmark-Rowse.
“Molabo’s 48 V electric motor enables us to leave the dock, manoeuvre under power, recover a person overboard, and motor at five knots for five hours, all without relying on fossil fuels for most scenarios.”
Adrian Patzak, COO of Molabo, added: “This project shows what’s possible. If Team Malizia can run an IMOCA with 48 volts and solar power, then many other vessels can do it.
“After all, the same Molabo drive installed in Malizia – Seaexplorer is also powering an 84-passenger solar ferry that runs all day, every day.”
