A conversation with Alessandro Lorenzon, Global Business Director and Chief Experience Officer at Greenline Yachts.

Alessandro Lorenzon

Greenline Yachts is renowned for its hybrid propulsion, but it also builds diesel-powered boats, right?

Yes. In fact, our sales are about half diesel-only models and half diesel-electric hybrids. One or two boats each year are also pure electric powered. It is a busy marketplace for diesel yachts in the 39-58ft category, but Greenline boats stand out. Our technology makes a diesel boat more comfortable, easier to use and less fuel hungry.

How is a diesel yacht from Greenline Yachts different to its competitors?

What makes a conventional Diesel Powertrain from Greenline different to any other diesel boat is first and foremost the way we manage the energy on board. Thanks to our solar roofing, you already have a free source of energy that is always there, always available, and that’s standard on all our boats.

Secondly, we offer the option of additional battery banks, where you can store energy coming from the rooftop or recovered from the diesel engine. You then get the benefit of this energy later at anchor, silently running the boat’s hotel facilities – from air-conditioning to induction cooking. This means that you use the generator far less, reducing diesel consumption and lowering maintenance costs. But more than that, you will have better comfort, because there’s no noise, no smell and no vibration.

And is this technology mature?

Yes and no. Our power management system is in a class of its own, and already offers up to 48 hours of silent operation at anchor when you take our extended Power Pack. We include solar panels as standard on the coachroof of every model and these can generate several kilowatts of power in the heat of a sunny summer’s day.

Greenline 58 Fly

But of course, the technology is still improving, driven by advances in the automotive and renewable worlds.

When I joined this company, the photovoltaic panels on top of the roof were rated at 280W. Now we use 450W panels and they are already talking about 500-520W. In just two years, that’s an almost 70 per cent improvement in the performance for the same area.

The same thing is happening with batteries. And this is what we really need, because we need to push 10 tonnes of boat through a liquid, which requires much more energy than just rolling wheels on a flat surface.

[Greenline owner] Vladimir Zinchenko is obsessed with innovation, so he’s always trying to push the boundaries. We are always in evolution, and this is what makes this company special. We fear no competition, because we’re always moving. So, the brands that follow our lead are always going to be chasing. On the other hand, they can only help us in spreading the word of alternative power and propulsion options.

What is the advantage of Hybrid Propulsion?

I think we all know that the electric revolution is under way now. Those people 15 years ago who said that they would never buy an electric car because it has a range of just 50 miles – you don’t hear them so much anymore, because e-cars can do 300-400 miles between charges. Boating is now heading in the same direction.

Our 6G H-Drive system already gives you silent manoeuvring and medium-range passage making under pure electric power. When running faster under the diesel engine, it skims off spare power to refill the batteries that power another 48 hours of silent hotel systems when you drop anchor.

The input and output of energy is managed with Greenline’s unique hybrid control unit, which is visually integrated with your Simrad display, so you have all the data on your dashboard. The hybrid option will enlarge your possibilities of enjoyment on board your boat, and, of course, give you more comfort.

So, you offer your owners a path towards Hybrid Yachting?

Yes, it’s kind of a modular offer we have. You start with pure diesel propulsion, add our special power pack with more battery bank, bigger alternators and Greenline power management system. And then you step up to the hybrid – or to the electric – to maximise your experience and your comfort or board.

Transitioning from pure diesel to alternative propulsion is one of our missions. But we must reach the diesel purists first, otherwise we can’t even start the conversation.

Can you foresee a time when purely electrical propulsion is viable for mainstream yachts?

We already have some markets where this is reality such as Scandinavia and America’s inland waterways. And closer to home, there is Lake Balaton in Hungary, where combustion engines are not allowed. A client came to me recently to discuss a fully electric version of the Greenline 45 Fly, which is a project we have already studied and is ready to go.

Does hybrid require a change in yachting philosophy?

Let me just be clear: I do not believe in ‘educating’ boaters. I believe that smart people can listen to a story and extract what matters to them, to make their experience on their own boat better. And that’s the message behind our Responsible Yachting idea.

For instance, are we really using the boats and are we really enjoying the sea the way it should be enjoyed if we go at 30 knots? Or is the sea meant to be seen and lived at five knots, or 10 knots?

I always like to say that hybrid builds a circle around you – a circle of energy inputs and outputs but also a circle of experiences. The way you use this circle – in other words, your experience onboard – can differ from one person to the other, from one situation to the other. You can live your boat – with the same specs, same power options – differently to my boat, and we can interpret boating completely differently.

These different interpretations, angles and usages transform the circle into a three-dimensional sphere, which we now call the Sphere of Greenline’s Experience.

What starts with the philosophy moves forward with the materials, sourced locally using a short supply chain, reducing the carbon footprint, using high-quality procedures like infusion, recycling offcuts of production and much more to stay and respect our community. Responsible Yachting is then the key to unleash the potential of your Sphere of Experience.

How is the design language at Greenline Yachts evolving?

This is another very important factor for our customers. Our concept of gentleman yachting is a fil rouge that links all our products, no matter what period they date from. Greenline’s DNA includes comfort, hospitality, space, natural light, easy ventilation and an easy flow between different areas.

A few years ago, we started working with Marco Casali who helped us bring superyacht design philosophy into our smaller yachts, to give our customer the solutions that would make them feel more comfortable. We’re not looking for the wow factor, but additions that are soundly tested and deeply practical. Things like increasing the glazing area, greater headroom in the saloon and wider doors.

Where will Greenline Yachts be in 10 years’ time?

My dream is to have a company with a leadership position in bringing technology and a new experience into the boating world. We build approximately 50 to 60 boats per year, but I believe that our factory is easily able to triple these volumes if the market demands it. I don’t think we will need 10 years to get there – we’re ready to be a 100-plus boat builder now.

What does the perfect day on a Greenline look like for you?

I’m from Venice and Venetians spend an incredible number of hours on the water. My perfect day is one where I take my boat early in the morning and I start navigating the lagoon, possibly towards the northern part, where you will see wetlands, nice canals and enjoy a lot of wildlife.

Or I set out from Portoroz (Greenline’s home port in Slovenia), heading for Croatia. On a winter’s day, the boat will be cutting through the waves of a glistening sea and sometimes, if you’re lucky, you see dolphins. Not for nothing is the Greenline logo a circle formed by dolphins chasing each other.

greenlinehybrid.com