MOdular Eco WAterbus ABLE TO BE DIVIDED INTO TWO IDENTICAL INDIPENDENT HYBRID UNITS ALLOWING OPERATING FLEXIBILITY IN TRANSPORTATION

Project Information

MOEWA

Grant agreement ID: 712110

DOI

10.3030/712110

Project closed

EC signature date 27 November 2015

Start date 1 December 2015

End date 31 May 2016

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Smart, Green And Integrated Transport

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

J. L. ECONBOARD SOCIETA A RESPONSABILITA LIMITATA SEMPLIFICATA
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MOEWA (MOdular Eco WAterbus ABLE TO BE DIVIDED INTO TWO IDENTICAL INDIPENDENTHYBRID UNITS ALLOWING OPERATING FLEXIBILITY IN TRANSPORTATION)

Reporting period: 2015-12-01 to 2016-05-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The MO.E.WA project (MOdular Eco WAterbus) allowed to investigate in the market of inland and coastal waterways boating of passengers and goods the opportunities for innovation related to the introduction of a particular architecture defined modular vessel and patented by the company J. L. Econboard s.r.l.s..

This architecture is required to introduce the concept of operational flexibility also in the naval world (as always happens in the automotive and railway market). The study showed that this operation results in a multiplicity of favorable consequences that can be summarized as follows:

- For the Environment: the concept of sustainability is for the first time not only pursued by optimizing and innovating propulsion devices on board, but intrinsically changing the concept of the mission; today in fact the cost of the mission, which is above all the fuel consumption and therefore pollution that results, is only tied to the travel distance and the speed, because the payload is a very low rate of factors that determine the consumption of current vessels. With modularity you can predict a consumption which is also a function, in a decisive way, of the payload (with a few passengers, for example using a single module, with many passengers simply using assembled modules).

- For Industry: the introduction of the concept of modularity in the naval field, subject of an Econboard international patent acknowledged with maximum score in innovation, inventiveness and industrial applicability, marks the need for a new step forward in the boat industry of small and medium-sized vessels in terms of technology and in terms of the workforce training. This process is able to pour out in the industry the most advanced technology from the fields of transport, simultaneously allowingEurope to maintain a competitive edgethat has been shrinking in recent years.

- For traders: with the concept of modularity an operator can buy a craft of a certain transport capacity, having the properties of two, independent, identical, quickly assembled if necessary, and finally being able to use even in three different configurations (one, two on different routes, the assembled with double load capacity).

Studies have shown that the modular craft HannaH (http://www.econboard.it/en/hannah) will be present on the market the same price as corresponding conventional units. This proves that this action can result in a successful business with excellent prospects for growth and employment.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The activity carried out has allowed us to better understand the potentialities related to the introduction of the concept of modularity in small and medium sized boat industry.

Such a concept is the basis of an operational flexibility that not only introduces in the market more environmentally friendly crafts, but also gives great advantages and benefits for all the stakeholders (environment, community, boat industry, traders).

A thoroughanalysis was carried outto outline more clearly the characteristics of the target market, the geographical areas and the first phase of development mode.

The economic risks of the initiative have been highlighted very carefully and the possible effective countermeasures have been determined.

The activity has allowed us to understand many innovative aspects in addition to those who were initially at the base of MO.E.WA project with the excellent result that has materialized by filing two more patent applications, a multiple Community model, and one additional registered trademark.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The concept of modularity as designed (and patented) by Econboard has never been applied in the history of boating (an international patent granted with the maximum score proves it). The concept of modularity as designed (and patented) by Econboard has never been applied in the history of boating (an international maximum scored patent proves it).

The modularity, as it is conceived, is able to break into the market thanks to its technical simplicity and impose itself in a short time because of operational flexibility which is capable of ensuring competitive costs.

Such flexibility is the basis for a deep improvement in environmental compatibility of the craft and a strong technological leap of boat industry.
This technological leap can be accomplished by raising the building standards with a positive impact in the sector, currently considered underdeveloped relative to the great naval industry.

The development of modularity in medium and small crafts can provide a decisive contribution to the development of the inland and coastal waterway transport (necessary in order to satisfy the Community policies that dictate the 50% reduction of road traffic of passengers and goods by 2050) with an excellent impact on employment and the technological growth of workers.

MOEWA - The MOdular EcoWAterbus