Sixty years of experience in marine propulsion with an eye always on the future. That’s how FPT Industrial presented itself at the 2025 Genoa International Boat Show, showcasing not only its high-speed diesel engines but also the new EBS 37 EVO battery pack, the company’s first fully electric product dedicated to the marine sector.
“Our roots go back to historic brands like Iveco and Iveco Aifo – explains Alessandro Mor, Product Manager at FPT Industrial – and today we continue to build on this motor heritage, which the market still highly values”.
FPT Industrial, engines between automation and craftsmanship
The brand’s strength lies in its ability to combine advanced industrial processes with artisanal attention to detail. “All our engines are built at our Turin plant, on dedicated work islands rather than a standard assembly line – says Mor – This allows us to blend automation with the specific care required for the marine sector”.
This is an approach that makes a difference: on one hand, cutting-edge production technologies; on the other, the customization needed in a market like the marine industry, where every application has its own unique requirements. Every engine undergoes 100% hot testing and receives a special paint treatment to ensure resistance to salt spray—a crucial step to guarantee performance and durability both in yachting and in professional applications. A final visual inspection completes the process before shipment.
Diverse markets and segments
Versatility is one of FPT Industrial’s destinctive traits. From the 9-liter engine—available in versions for yachting or heavy-duty applications—to 1,000-horsepower units, FPT covers a wide range of needs: yachts, sport fishing boats, passenger transport, pilot boats, and government vessels. “We also collaborate with the Italian Guardia di Finanza and several international police forces – notes Mor – because sturdiness and reliability are essential even in the most demanding operational missions”.
Geographically, the company continues to see Europe as its main market but is strongly expanding toward North America, Latin America, and Asia. “In Alaska, Seattle, and New England, our engines thrive – he adds – There, fishing and sport fishing demand maximum power and reliability. In South America, we have a presence in Argentina, while in Asia we also work with government bodies in China and India”.
FPT Industrial: technology, services, and sustainability
Technological innovation has been a real game changer. “Common rail systems have revolutionized engines, bringing greater efficiency and performance”, recalls Mor. Today, this is complemented by connected services: thanks to telematics, yacht owners and institutional clients can monitor data and consumption in real time, enabling predictive maintenance. “With a GSM modem, all data are sent to a control room, allowing fleet managers to keep everything under control—from fuel consumption to potential alerts”, explains Mor.
The path toward sustainability is enriched by tangible projects. Through its partnership with the One Ocean Foundation, FPT has helped replant Posidonia seagrass in Sanremo; and together with the Tethys Institute, it has repowered the research vessel used for studying cetaceans in the Pelagos Sanctuary. On the fuel front, FPT engines are already compatible with HVO, a biofuel capable of reducing CO₂ emissions by up to 90%, although widespread infrastructure remains a challenge. “The technology is ready, but we need a widespread network to support its adoption”, emphasizes Mor. In the meantime, FPT continues to develop hydrogen and multifuel gas solutions—often ahead of market availability.
Toward hybrid and electric propulsion
Alongside its traditional engines and the new auxiliary range for megayachts, FPT is investing heavily in hybrid technology. “We’ve developed compact parallel systems capable of operating in three modes: fully electric, internal combustion with recharging, or combined”, explains Mor. This technology has already been tested on some demo boats, such as the Venice laboratory vessel.
FPT Industrial enters marine electrification
It’s within this evolution that the big news from the 2025 Genoa Boat Show comes in: the EBS 37 EVO battery.
“Launched at the beginning of 2025, it’s our first battery designed specifically for marine applications”, says Danilo Testa, Marketing Product Manager at FPT Industrial. “It’s the natural outcome of years of experience in the on-road segment, where between 2018 and 2024 we sold around 20,000 units, including batteries and electrified systems. This experience allows us to offer the marine sector a mature, tested, and reliable product”.
The EBS 37 EVO is modular, features high energy density, and can power both fully electric and hybrid vessels, in either parallel or serial configurations. It’s ready for use on recreational boats up to 24 meters, with a clear competitive advantage: “Within our group,” Testa highlights, “we can offer a competitive cost and a Battery Management System developed directly by FPT—the technological core that enhances performance and safety. The BMS is essentially the brain managing each battery, and it’s crucial that it’s designed and built alongside the pack itself”.
A clear strategy
Sustainability isn’t just a marketing choice—it’s a strategic driver. “We’ve been leaders in the on-road natural gas segment for years”, concludes Testa. “The marine challenge is simply the next step in our journey toward zero-emission mobility”.
With increasingly efficient engines, new hybrid solutions, and a decisive move into electric propulsion, FPT Industrial confirms its role as a key player in the energy transition within the yachting industry, while staying firmly rooted in Italian engine-building tradition.
