innovation power catamarans

PowerCat – Above the Waves

The art of catamaran building new defined.

Chart your own course and discover the limitless possibilities of the open waters with PowerCat. Renowned for our expert craftsmanship and visionary design, we engineer power catamarans that redefine performance, efficiency, and comfort.

PowerCat – Where Innovation Meets the Sea

Every PowerCat vessel is a testament to our commitment to innovation and our passion for the sea. Our Diesel, Electric, Hybrid, and Solar Catamarans can all be fitted with our groundbreaking Maritime Advanced Range System (M.A.R.S) – a hydrofoil assisted system that exemplifies our pioneering spirit.

From meticulous design to precision engineering, our range of PowerCats showcases a perfect balance of weight distribution, stability, and speed. Our boats are lightweight powerhouses, designed to be up to 50% lighter than their closest competitors. This results in extraordinary fuel efficiency and higher speeds, even with smaller engines.

At PowerCat, we believe that safety and comfort should never be compromised for performance. Every PowerCat is built with safety at its core, featuring isolated waterproof regions, advanced electronic management systems, and continuous motor monitoring. Our interiors offer unmatched comfort, providing a perfect space for relaxation, entertainment, and the creation of lasting memories.

Explore our range of models, such as the exceptional PowerCat 8 , and experience the PowerCat difference. Here, luxury meets efficiency, and the horizon is just the beginning. Embark on your next adventure with PowerCat. Sail beyond the ordinary.

• THE PRINCESS PASSPORT
• Email Newsletter
• Yacht Walkthroughs
• Destinations
• Electronics
• Boating Safety

The Power Catamaran Compilation

• By Yachting Staff
• Updated: December 21, 2018

Power Catamarans have been growing leaps and bounds in popularity, and, in lengths and widths. And for good reason. These cruise-centric yachts offer homelike livability for avid travelers, are fuel efficient and are fairly intuitive to run. Power cats are popular in the bareboat charter market too, for these very reasons.

Here, we take a look at 12 catamarans ranging from a cruising-couple-size 36-footer to a 78-footer for friends, family and some more friends. And there are myriad power options: outboards, diesel inboards, hybrid or even all-solar power.

Fountaine Pajot MY44

The Fountaine Pajot MY44 , a creation of Italian architect Pierangelo Andreani and French designer Daniel Andrieu, has a main deck that’s open from the aft-deck seating all the way forward to the starboard helm station. The sense of spaciousness is significant, for several reasons. First, four glass panels aft can all slide to port, creating an indoor-outdoor space with the aft deck and salon. In the salon, 32-inch-high windows extend for 12 feet down the sides of the yacht, with three sections per side, bringing in natural light along with the three forward panes that comprise the windshield. Finally, 6-foot-6-inch headroom provides vertical clearance, with a 21-foot-7-inch beam that adds interior roominess while keeping the yacht stable.

Read more: Fountaine Pajot MY44

Silent-Yachts 55

The ideas about which solar panels, electric motors, inverters and the like to use — and more importantly, Michael Köhler says, how to configure them — became the basis for the brand Silent-Yachts. The company offers 55-, 64- and 79-foot catamarans that run on solar-electric propulsion. The Silent 55 premiered this fall, and the 64 is sold out for the next two years, Köhler says.

Read more: Silent 55

Horizon PC74

As founder and director of The Powercat Company, a Horizon Power Catamarans distributor, Stuart Hegerstrom had long believed that catamaran builders needed to design their yachts to more stylish standards.

“The boats were very boxy,” he says, based on his years of experience with cats in the charter market. He and his partner, Richard Ford, asked Horizon to produce models that had high-end finishes and looked good inside and out.

The Horizon team brought in mega-yacht designer JC Espinosa to work with its own craftsmen. The result aboard the Horizon PC74 is a catamaran with exterior styling, layout and functionality that should appeal to private and charter owners alike.

Read more: Horizon PC74

The Aquila 36 is a departure from her sisterships in that she is an outboard-powered, express-cruiser-style catamaran, but she also adheres to MarineMax’s philosophies.

With a single main living level from bow to stern and a beam of 14 feet 7 inches, the Aquila 36 is like a bowrider on steroids. She has seating that can handle 20 adults for outings and barbecues, and there are two staterooms below, one in each hull, for family weekending. The staterooms have nearly queen-size berths, en suite heads, stowage and 6-foot-6-inch headroom.

Read more: Aquila 36

Lagoon Seventy 8 Powercat

Lagoon is a division of Groupe Beneteau, the world’s largest builder of sailing yachts, and the Lagoon Seventy 8 Powercat is a developmental sistership of its Seventy 7 super sailing cat. The Seventy series yachts are built at Construction Navale Bordeaux in France, which had to add a new yard to construct these catamarans because they require separate stern molds for the power and sail versions.

Read more: Lagoon Seventy 8 Powercat

Horizon PC60

To understand the Horizon PC60 power catamaran , you need to put aside preconceived notions about midsize yacht amenities. For example, main-deck master suites are the province of yachts over 100 feet length overall. Incorrect. This 60-footer has an elegant and spacious owner’s stateroom on the same level as the salon. If you want a 14-foot center console tender on a 60-foot yacht, you have to tow it. Wrong again. On the PC60, you hoist it onto the upper deck, no problem.

Read more: Horizon PC60

40 Open Sunreef Power

Sunreef is known for pushing the boundaries of catamaran design, incorporating four adjustable hydrofoils into a twin-hulled speedboat.

The Polish builder is one of several European builders (including Evo, Fjord, Wider and Wally) transforming the open ­day-boat category with creative designs. ­Beyond its hydrofoils, the 40 Open Sunreef Power ‘s cockpit has side “wings” along the aft gunwales that fold out at anchor, widening the beam from 17 feet to 22 feet 9 inches.

Read more: 40 Open Sunreef Power

Sunreef 50 Amber Limited Edition

Sunreef Yachts introduced its 50 Amber Limited Edition , with plans to launch just 10 hulls of the exclusive design.

The Sunreef 50 Amber Limited Edition will have a carbon fiber mast and boom, four layout options and numerous amber-colored elements, including the hull.

Read more: Sunreef 50 Amber Limited Edition

Lagoon 630 Motor Yacht

Fitted with the optional twin 300-horsepower Volvo Penta D4 diesels, the Lagoon 630 MY burns only 1.64 gph total at 6 knots, giving a theoretical range of 2,952 nautical miles with standard tankage of 793 gallons. Hull No. 1 had an optional 502-gallon tank, giving it transatlantic range.

Luxury, stability and economy are all hallmarks of Lagoon’s return to luxury motor yachts. If you can take a ride, it will be worth your time.

Read more: Lagoon 630 Motor Yacht

Fountaine Pajot MY 37

The Fountaine Pajot MY 37 easily accommodates the seafaring family with three- and four-stateroom options. In the three-cabin version, called ­Maestro, you’ll find an owner’s suite in the portside hull with a queen-size berth and en suite head. Two double-berth cabins and one more head are available for the kids. If your brood is bigger, the Quator setup features four double cabins with two heads.

The 37 is a traveler and can be powered with twin 150 hp or 220 hp Volvo Penta diesels. Top speed with the smaller engines is 17 knots, while it’s 20 knots with the bigger power plants. Interestingly, at 7 knots, the fuel consumption is the same, with either set of motors offering voyagers a 1 ,000-nm range.

Read more: Fountaine Pajot MY 37

Solarwave 64

Many yachts boast eco chops because they have a handful of solar panels that power the microwave or navigation lights. The Solarwave 64 , launched last summer, has the potential to run on sunshine alone. The vessel’s 42 solar panels generate 15 kW that are stored in batteries weighing about 1,300 pounds. They connect to electric motors.

Read more: Solarwave 64

Glider SS18

This British builder says it strives for design innovation and the Glider SS18 displays that DNA, the result of 8 years of research and development. She has a head-turning, catamaran hull form constructed from aluminum and composite materials. She is 60 feet LOA with a 17-foot beam, and has a relatively shallow 1-foot draft. Powered by quad Yamaha 300 hp outboards, she can reportedly reach 50 knots, and with her Stability Control System (SCS), should give a smooth ride while doing it.

Read more: Glider SS18

• More: aquila , Aquila Boats , Express and Flybridge Cruisers , Fountain Pajot , Glider Yachts , Horizon Power Catamarans , Lagoon , Power Catamarans , Silent-Yachts , Sunreef , Yachts
• More Yachts

Compass’ New Luxury Limo Tender

Nauta Reveals Details of the XP75

Two Sirena Yachts Are Better Than One

Custom Line 140′ Launches

Valo’s Foiling PWC

Palm Beach Motor Yachts 45 Sedan For Sale

• Digital Edition
• Customer Service
• Privacy Policy
• Email Newsletters
• Cruising World
• Sailing World
• Salt Water Sportsman
• Sport Fishing
• Wakeboarding

Your source for the latest news on yachts, boats and more. Read through our articles to find out how to compare boats and find the right fit for you!

Power Catamarans: A Complete Guide

Dec 06, 2023

less than a min

Power Catamarans, often termed as the epitome of modern maritime engineering, are gaining popularity for all the right reasons. Their distinct design, enhanced stability, and cruising efficiency set them apart from traditional monohull boats and even their sail-driven counterparts. This guide dives into the world of Power Catamarans, shedding light on their advantages and how they compare to other vessels like monohulls and trimarans.

Historical Prelude:

The concept of catamarans traces its roots back to ancient maritime cultures. However, the power catamaran is a relatively modern innovation that marries the traditional twin-hull design with powerful engines, offering a unique blend of speed, stability, and space.

Distinguishing Design:

Power Catamarans are characterized by their twin hulls, which significantly reduce the drag, thus enhancing speed and fuel efficiency. Unlike monohulls, they have a broader beam, which contributes to increased stability and more living space. The absence of a ballast for stability further lightens the vessel, contributing to its speed and fuel economy

Speed and Handling:

One of the significant advantages of power catamarans is their speed and handling. The twin hulls allow for a smoother glide over the water, making them particularly favorable for watersports enthusiasts. Their handling in rough waters is superior to monohulls, thanks to the inherent stability provided by the dual-hull design.

The stability of power catamarans is unparalleled, especially when compared to monohulls. The wide beam and twin hulls provide a stable platform, reducing the rocking and rolling common in monohulls. This stability is not only comforting in rough seas but also crucial when docking or anchoring.

Comfort and Space:

The spacious design of power catamarans offers homelike livability, with ample room for cabins, lounges, and even onboard amenities like grills and bars. The wide beam also allows for large deck spaces, ideal for sunbathing or enjoying the scenic ocean vistas.

Economy and Redundancy:

Power catamarans are economical, with fuel efficiency being one of their selling points. The redundancy built into their design, with separate engines for each hull, provides an added layer of safety, ensuring that the vessel can return to shore even if one engine fails.

Regular Upkeep and Care:

Power catamarans, given their unique design and structure, come with their own set of maintenance requirements. Like all boats, routine checks and upkeep are essential to ensure smooth sailing. The twin hull design means double the underwater gear – from propellers to rudders, which necessitates regular inspections for any signs of wear, tear, or fouling.

Antifouling:

Given that power catamarans have a larger surface area underwater due to their twin hulls, they may be more susceptible to marine growth. Regular antifouling treatments can help in keeping the hulls clean, ensuring optimal performance and fuel efficiency.

Engine Maintenance:

One distinct advantage of power catamarans is their dual-engine setup, but this also means double the engine maintenance. Regular oil changes, cooling system checks, and filter replacements are crucial. It's beneficial to synchronize maintenance schedules for both engines to ensure consistent performance.

The lifespan of a power catamaran largely depends on its build quality, materials used, and how well it's maintained. With proper care, a power catamaran can last for several decades. The engine's maintenance significantly impacts the catamaran's lifespan, with gasoline engines requiring maintenance at 1,200 to 1,800 hours and diesel engines at around 5,000 hours​​. The construction materials play a crucial role; for instance, fiberglass catamarans, when well-maintained, can last for many decades, while aluminum cats might change ownership after 10-15 years but can last a lifetime with proper care​.

World-Renowned Builders:

The power catamaran sector boasts several reputable manufacturers such as Lagoon, Leopard Catamarans, Fountaine Pajot, and other notable names like Seawind Catamarans​.

Lagoon, a revered name under the Beneteau Group umbrella, has carved its niche in crafting luxurious, spacious catamarans. A prime example is the Lagoon 630 Motor Yacht, embodying opulence with its nearly 250 sq. ft. aft deck and 900 sq. ft. interior, comfortably housing up to 12 guests. Known for its superyacht styling, it boasts superior fuel efficiency and a commendable average velocity-made-good of 9 knots.

Leopard Catamarans:

Emerging from the reputable Robertson and Caine shipyard in South Africa, Leopard Catamarans is synonymous with innovation and efficiency. The Leopard 53 Powercat is a testament to this legacy, showcasing excellent seakeeping abilities, offering 3 or 4 cabin configurations, and achieving a top speed of 25 knots.

Fountaine Pajot:

A trailblazer since 1976, Fountaine Pajot constantly redefines catamaran design. The Fountaine Pajot MY6 is a shining example, encapsulating the brand's visionary ethos. Stretching 15 meters, the MY6, equipped with dual engines of up to 2 x 353 Kw and 2 x 480 hp, promises dynamic sailing. Crafted meticulously by Pier Angelo Andreani, the interior mirrors a 20-meter monohull's spaciousness, reflecting modern aesthetics and comfort that stand as a benchmark in the Motor Yacht world.

These manufacturers continue to innovate, offering a blend of luxury, performance, and efficiency in their power catamaran models, making them a popular choice among maritime enthusiasts.

Comparing with Monohulls and Trimarans:

While monohulls are traditional and often cheaper, they lack the stability and space offered by power catamarans. On the other hand, trimarans, with three hulls, provide even more stability but at the cost of additional drag and less interior space.

TheBoatDB - Your Gateway to Maritime Exploration:

If you’re looking to delve deeper into the world of power catamarans and other vessels, TheBoatDB offers a comprehensive boat database. Explore various catamaran models, compare them with monohulls, trimarans, and other types of boats, and make an informed decision on your next maritime adventure.

In summary, power catamarans encapsulate a modern engineering marvel in the maritime domain. Their blend of speed, stability, comfort, and economy makes them an attractive option for a broad spectrum of boaters. Whether you are a long-distance cruiser, a water sport enthusiast, or someone who cherishes the tranquility of the sea, a power catamaran could be the vessel that transforms your maritime adventures into unforgettable experiences.

You might like these too

Sailboat or Motorboat – Learn the pros and cons lg ...

Aug 24, 2022

Types of Catamaran Boats: Sailing, Power, and Luxury Catamarans lg ...

Feb 10, 2023

Which is better a wooden boat or fiberglass boat lg ...

What are the main types of sail rigs for sailboats lg ...

Which is the Best Economical Catamaran lg ...

Oct 04, 2021

What is a Chine on a Boat lg ...

Oct 01, 2021

• Why Multihull Solutions?
• Multihull Solutions Australia Team
• Multihull Southeast Asia Team
• Multihull New Zealand Team
• Multihull New Caledonia Team
• Multihull Tahiti Team
• New Caledonia
• Manufacturing
• Key Features
• NEEL Safety
• Owners Stories
• Submit a Story
• Multihull Reviews
• Testimonials
• Pre-Owned Buying Process
• Sell Your Boat
• Charter companies
• Insuring your boat
• Financing Your Boat
• Marine weather
• Haul-out services
• Marine Surveyors
• Australian Hydrographic Service
• Resource Centre
• Buyer Broker Service
• First Aid Training
• Sailing School
• How to Register Your Boat
• Licences & Training
• Crew services

Innovation 65 – Boat Review

By David Lockwood Boasting a cleverly-designed symmetrical planing hull and an inspired hydrofoil system, the innovation 65 is one clever cat. David Lockwood tests it out. The forecast was for a gale and, sure enough, such was the severity of the 50kt westerly winds that the builders of an 87-footer in Brisbane had just cancelled our boat test. But the agent for this contemporary power catamaran had other ideas and, well, something to prove. While there were whitecaps as far as the eye could see, there was no white-knuckle ride on this Australian-designed and built Innovation 65. A big-ticket boat selling for more than $3 million fully-equipped for long-range liveaboard cruising, the world-class power catamaran – the fourth 65 to be launched in six years – has a seemingly invincible ride and new levels of cruising comfort. To read complete story – click here for Innovation 65 – Boat Review on BoatPoint website

• Afghanistan Åland Islands Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia Comoros Congo Congo, The Democratic Republic of The Cook Islands Costa Rica Cote D'ivoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and Mcdonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Reunion Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and The Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and The South Sandwich Islands Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand Timor-leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States United States Minor Outlying Islands Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Viet Nam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe
• Please select... ACT NSW NT QLD SA TAS VIC WA

Click here for our office locations and phone details

Subscribe to our eNewsletter

Thanks for subscribing to Multihull Solutions e-Newsletter. To complete your subscription, simply click the confirmation link in an email we have sent to the email address you have specified.

We will keep you informed on the latest model catamarans and trimarans, best buys on boats for sale, catamaran reviews, articles and promotions.

Sign up to our e-newsletter which is packed with information on the latest catamarans and trimarans, best buys on boats for sale, catamaran reviews, articles and promotions.

Innovation 65 Power Catamaran

Boasting a cleverly-designed symmetrical planing hull and an inspired hydrofoil system, the innovation 65 is one clever cat. david lockwood tests it out.

• Fully equipped for long-range cruising
• Only iron keel available. No lead option.

Stay up to date

Become a boatsales member and get the latest news, reviews and advice straight to your inbox.

• No results were found.

With over 40 years of manufacturing experience and the collaboration of multiple award-winning firms and designers, Aquila Power Catamarans is the world leader in producing high quality, innovation filled and exceptionally performing power catamarans. No other vessels on the planet offer more features, reliability, durability, and value than our world class lineup delivers. 

Aquila’s rapid growth and global success has challenged our international design and engineering teams to rise to elevated expectations. Every model embodies the reliable features and construction methods used in the hundreds of Aquilas cruising the world today.

The Aquila Difference | Performance, Innovation and Quality

Performance

Performance is defined as how well it works. But the broader definition ensures that every aspect of an Aquila Power Catamaran will deliver exceptional performance, offering great power and reliability. Every model is performance driven.

Innovation comes from a willingness to question, to dream and to create. At Aquila, we pride ourselves on continuously pursuing innovation and best-in-class features when it comes to our boats. Fresh products, features, designs, and style are all challenged to deliver the world’s best power catamarans.

Quality starts with design. The world-class design and engineering team assembled by Aquila includes naval architects, engineers, production management and inspired designers from around the globe. Members of the renowned J&J Design group have played a key role in the development of the brand. Although painstaking and labor intense, the team at Aquila thinks long term and invests time and materials to ensure quality.

OUR MISSION

MAKAI Power Catamarans seeks to redefine the power catamaran market by offering high-performing, spacious, and luxurious powercats accessible to all boaters. Our debut model, the distinctive MAKAI M37 power catamaran, prioritizes exhilarating performance and exceptional quality. This model is meticulously crafted to maximize all of MAKAI's core values.

MAKAI prioritizes its core values in every aspect of our work. Our main focus is on creating high-quality and innovative power catamarans, ensuring that all our fleets provide an enhanced cruising experience that maximizes the true pleasures of boating. Explore our debut models: the MAKAI M37 and its open-roof counterpart, designed for sun-soakers seeking boundless agility and space.

Three founders,

At the Core

One passion

Brand Evolution

Engineering Excellence

The collaboration was sparked by a shared passion: performance power catamarans. Each founder brings extensive international experience in the boating and maritime industry, ranging from hands-on boat building to leadership roles in globally recognized boating companies. Coming together, these founders merge their expertise to create an innovative power catamaran that sets new standards in the market, providing everyone the opportunity to truly enjoy the pleasures of boating.

The MAKAI brand was founded by a diverse global team from the UK, Australia and Croatia ,with over 40 years of collective experience in the boating industry. Their expertise focuses particularly in catamarans, emphasizing fuel efficiency and innovation. Drawing on their industry insights, they synergized their individual strengths to craft a luxurious and powerful powercat that addresses contemporary market demands. To infuse the MAKAI values into the boat design, the team collaborated with Italian Sports Boat Designer Emanuele Rossi.

Our current founders leverage their expertise to guarantee the delivery of the highest quality product in the market. Shane Grover, our operations director, has been building performance catamarans for almost 20 years, and is hands on at the factory every day with every new build to uphold the highest standards of production quality.

Designed in Italy

Classically Elegant

Built in Croatia

Sports Cars

The MAKAI M37 is intricately designed in Italy, renowned for its excellence in craftsmanship and trend-setting design. For many months, the MAKAI team dedicated extensive effort to enhance and perfect the original prototype so it reflects on all of MAKAI's core values.

"The sportiness of the design is inspired by classically elegant sports cars. The boat has an interesting combination: the boat moldings and surfaces have a feminine elegance, but there are also more masculine aspects that coexist together. This interesting cohesion creates that fascinating harmony between elegance and masculinity, expressing sportiness with agility. In design, it is important to find the perfect balance between the two worlds if the aim is to portray both sportiness, grittiness as well as elegance. "

One Ride Away

Global Scale

The production and handover facility in Split, Croatia. This strategically positions MAKAI at the heart of the world's major boating markets. Renowned for its rich boating history, beautiful coastlines and close connectivity to global shipping routes, Split offers an ideal location for MAKAI power catamarans. This provides Makai owners a unique opportunity to get to know their boats whilst exploring this beautiful region before shipping to your final destination

MAKAI's objective is to provide high-quality and innovative power catamarans on a global scale. With our extensive premium dealer network spanning across three continents, we can cater to customers worldwide, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to experience the true pleasures of boating.

• Get Newsletter
• Privacy Policy

Engine Innovation

Aspens make the most of engines, no matter what configuration.

Aspens run on a single diesel engine or two mismatched outboards, depending on the model chosen. Both configurations have their advantages, depending on the boating experience you’re after.

Single-Diesel Power Drives

The single diesel power proa hull carries many advantages in her design. While identical in profile, the two hulls are very different in plan view, with one hull 35 percent thinner than the other. Additionally, the design utilizes only one engine, shaft, prop, and keel. The design’s asymmetrical hulls are shaped to compensate for the engine torque. Since both forces are proportional to speed and thrust, the boat runs straight. We call this the SeaGlider system.

The benefits of the SeaGlider technology are significant. While the thinner proa hull is only 35 percent thinner, its actual drag is approximately 50 percent less. This fluid-dynamic relationship is best summed up as “a little thinner equals a lot less energy.” This hull also has none of the typical, twin-engine appendage drag seen on most boats. Drive gear such as the keel, shaft, rudder, and prop typically add another 20-percent drag.

Beyond this, the single engine design saves dramatically on machinery weight, which in turn saves on the required structure component sizes, plus additional necessary fuel and the corresponding weight of that load. All these savings reduce the boat’s weight by approximately 40 percent. The result of less weight is much less drag.

Aspen offers boaters a perfect haven due to its balance of environmental and performance efficiencies in combination with its roomy layout and exceptional comfort. The aspen hull and its many benefits are all rooted in solid engineering principles and creative innovation.

Case Study: The Aspen C120 Runs Straight with Two Hulls and One Engine

The C120 uses Aspen’s patented award-winning hull design for ideal performance with a state-of-the-art Volvo Penta D6 diesel. Design cruise speeds are 16 to 18 knots with a top speed of 20 to 23 knots, depending on the horsepower (370 horsepower or 435 horsepower). Fuel economy with the single 435-horsepower diesel is 10 gph at 16 knots; that’s 50 to 60 percent lower fuel burn than competitive boats. Your fun cruising range just doubled in a day!

Outboard Power Like No Other Boat

At Aspen we understand that many boaters today are looking for outboard power, and we’ve received a lot of input from our owners and prospective buyers. Over the years buyers have said they like what we do in terms of efficiency, stability, cabin space, and style, but wanted the versatility outboards provide. Some needed to cut across sandbars and draft was an issue. Others travel to areas where it is easier to service outboards, or head far offshore and prefer the redundancy and peace of mind twin engines provide. Some buyers just prefer outboards: Having grown up with them, they understand them better.

Aspen’s Founder and President Larry Graf noticed his earlier-designed twin-outboard catamarans could successfully run off a single engine with slight steering corrections. And he has always understood the efficiency, speed, and performance outboards can achieve. With the technological developments that outboards have undergone in the last decade, they are cleaner, quieter, and more fuel efficient than ever. Larry set out to integrate outboard power into his patented proa design to provide added benefits and efficiency.

Larry saw an opportunity to incorporate outboard power to create even more of an advantage for Aspen owners. He tested our asymmetrical hulls with a single engine like on our inboard boats and they ran well. Since many outboard fishermen would also want to troll, he then experimented with adding a smaller trolling motor to the other hull. At first he thought that the trolling motor would be tilted up when running at speed but he soon found that the smaller outboard added appendage drag that helped with tracking, largely because the outboard-powered hulls lacked the keel of the inboard boats. He soon realized that if you are going to have both engines in the water you might as well power them both while running. Dialing in the size and power of the engines as well as the hull shape he came up with the optimal running setup and the first asymmetrical outboard-powered catamaran was born.

As with any new model or change, we do extensive testing and sea-trialing. The results of this power package were surprisingly good. The outboard model topped out at speeds that were 20 percent faster than the diesel inboard version of the same boat. We categorize the acceleration as startling, and we’ll leave it at that. These outboards are a lot different than those that many of us used to know: They’re actually quieter at cruising speed than the inboard diesel. With power tilt, we can reduce the draft of the boat to 22 inches. On one engine she’ll run at 8 knots, and single-engine operation also can reduce trolling speed to less than 1.8 knots.

While our outboard-powered boats have some advantages over the diesel-powered boats, there are some differences to consider. For example, a boat powered by the two outboards will burn 15 percent more fuel than the single-diesel model. Outboards will not last as long as a robust diesel engine, but repowering is easier. Storing a dinghy is a little trickier with outboards, but we have designed a patent-pending davit system that is fast and easy to use.

Outboard power is very popular today and many owners are willing to sacrifice some fuel efficiency and engine longevity for faster top-end speeds and other advantages. Aspen delivers top efficiency in their outboard models compared to other outboard-driven boats in their size and class and continues to offer a full line of diesel inboards too.

Case Study: The Aspen C107 Runs Straight with Two Outboards of Different Horsepower

Our Aspen C107 is optimally paired with 200- and 70-horsepower outboards. Together they provide a nice balance for our Power Proa hull. The engines run perfectly in unison or individually. They both are rated for the same maximum rpm range of 5,000 to 6,000, have the same lower-unit gear ratio, and use similarly pitched props. The motors deliver thrust proportional to their horsepower at the same rpm. Since the port hull is 35 percent narrower, it takes about 50 percent less energy to slip through the water. We changed the starboard hull so it no longer has the keel form and prop pocket. The hull shape at the bow still lets the boat run in balance: No helm correction is needed, and hands-free tracking is on par with our inboard design.

Patent No. US 8,109,221 B2

Stay Up to Date with Aspen Sign up to receive our enewsletter.

11656 Knudson Rd. Burlington, WA 98233

Privacy Policy

© Copyright 2012 - 2024 | Aspen Power Catamarans

(360) 668-4347 EMAIL US

Home | About Us | Services | Designs | News | Links | Contact Us | Site Map

Legal Disclaimer: copyright © 2004-2005 Bloomfield Innovation Pty Ltd

• Expedition Yachts
• Expedition Catamarans
• Bering Marine
• Bering Fleet

Bering Yachts Runs a New Adventure with Bering 60 CAT

Pioneering expedition yachts for over 15 years, Bering Yachts is once again charting new waters with the introduction of B60 CAT , an aluminum catamaran designed for both luxurious exploration and comfortable living.

Following the success of their renowned steel trawler yachts, Bering takes a bold step into the world of catamarans, catering to the growing demand for stable, practical, and stylish vessels. This exciting expansion allows customers to embrace the latest trends while staying true to their adventurous spirit.

Combining the best of both worlds, B60 CAT offers:

• Unmatched Stability: The inherent stability of a catamaran design is further enhanced by Bering’s meticulous craftsmanship and commitment to safety. Explore remote destinations with confidence, knowing your vessel can handle any condition.
• Luxurious Comfort: Step inside and discover a haven of sophistication. From the spacious saloon with panoramic windows to the multiple decks offering ample relaxation areas, B60 CAT is designed for comfortable living, making every journey an unforgettable experience.
• Unwavering Innovation: Bering’s legacy of innovation shines through in B60 CAT. The flexible layout allows for customization with 4, 5, or even 6 staterooms, an open or enclosed flybridge, and dedicated zones for privacy. Additionally, the 10.5 square meter rising platform and spacious storage areas cater to your adventurous spirit.
• Impressive Performance: Equipped with twin Cummins QSB 6.7 engines, B60 CAT effortlessly cruises at 12-13 knots, reaching speeds of up to 15 knots. With a range of 3,000 nautical miles, explore farther and wider without worrying about fuel stops.

Bering 60 CAT is more than just a new vessel; it’s a testament to Bering’s commitment to pushing boundaries and exceeding expectations. This innovative catamaran is poised to become a leader in its class, attracting discerning explorers who seek the perfect blend of stability, luxury, and performance.

Ready to embark on your next adventure? Contact Bering Yachts today to learn more about B60 CAT .

Buy to charter

• About ParkNews
• Privacy Policy

FEIG ELECTRONIC: Moscow-City Skyscrapers Streamline Parking Access and Control with Secure RFID

Feig electronic partners with isbc group to deploy ucode dna rfid security and parking access control solution in moscow business district.

Weilburg, Germany  — December 3,  2019  —  FEIG ELECTRONIC , a leading global supplier of radio frequency identification (RFID) readers and antennas with fifty years of industry experience, announces deployment of the UCODE DNA RFID security and parking contactless identification solution in the Moscow International Business Center, known as Moscow-City, one of the world’s largest business district projects.

The management of Moscow-City not only selected long-range, passive UHF RFID to implement in its controlled parking areas, it also chose to implement UCODE DNA , the highest form of secure RAIN RFID technology, developed by NXP Semiconductors.

Panoramic view of Moscow city and Moskva River at sunset. New modern futuristic skyscrapers of Moscow-City – International Business Center, toned

“Underscoring NXP’s innovation and leadership in developing advanced RAIN RFID technologies, our UCODE DNA was chosen to be incorporated with the FEIG and ISBC implementation of the contactless identification system in the prestigious Moscow-City,” said Mahdi Mekic, marketing director for RAIN RFID with NXP Semiconductors. “This exciting project represents yet another successful deployment of NXP’s contactless portfolio, and showcases our continued ability to meet the high-security requirements of highly demanding applications without compromising user convenience.”

“UCODE DNA is considered the only identification technology to match the physical protection of a barrier with the cybersecurity necessary to truly protect entrances from unauthorized access,” said Manuel Haertlé, senior product manager for FEIG Electronic. “As a respected contactless payment technology company, FEIG applies security know-how from its payment terminals, which are fully certified according to the latest high-class security standards, into our RFID systems. FEIG vehicle access control RFID readers incorporate advanced secure key storage elements, supporting various methods for secure key injection.”

FEIG’s partner ISBC Group provided the knowledge and support for this successful implementation using  FEIG’s long-range UHF RFID . The resulting system enables authorized vehicle entry into areas reserved for private residential use or corporate tenants, while also allowing availability of temporary, fee-based visitor parking. Thanks to the cryptographic authentication of UCODE DNA, both the tag and reader must go through an authentication procedure before the reader will validate the data from the tag, which is transmitted wirelessly. This level of authentication is typically used in the most secure data communication networks.

“The system’s two-step authentication means that only authorized equipment can handle the secure protocol and the data exchange with the UCODE DNA based tag. Without the required cryptographic secrets, other readers would query the tag in vain, because the tag’s response cannot be interpreted or understood,” said Andrey Krasovskiy, director of the RFID department at ISBC Group. “On top of this, each data exchange in the authentication process is unique, so even if a malicious actor were to intercept the communication, the transmission is only good for a single exchange and the tag’s unique identity is protected from cloning.”

Established in 1992 and still growing, Moscow-City is the revitalization and transformation of an industrial riverfront into a new, modern, vibrant and upscale business and residential district. A mix of residential, hotel, office, retail and entertainment facilities, it is located about four kilometers west of Red Square along the Moscow River. Twelve of the twenty-three planned facilities have already been completed, with seven currently under construction. Six skyscrapers in Moscow-City reach a height of at least 300 meters, including Europe’s tallest building, Federation Tower, which rises more than 100 stories.

Partnering with ISBC and deploying FEIG Electronic RFID solutions, the Moscow International Business Center is delivering security and access control to its city center today, as it grows into the city of tomorrow.

About FEIG ELECTRONIC

FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH, a leading global supplier of RFID readers and antennas is one of the few suppliers worldwide offering RFID readers and antennas for all standard operating frequencies: LF (125 kHz), HF (13.56 MHz), UHF (860-960 MHz). A trusted pioneer in RFID with more than 50 years of industry experience, FEIG ELECTRONIC delivers unrivaled data collection, authentication, and identification solutions, as well as secure contactless payment systems. Readers from FEIG ELECTRONIC, which are available for plug-in, desktop, and handheld applications, support next-generation contactless credit cards, debit cards, smart cards, NFC and access control credentials to enable fast, accurate, reliable and secure transactions. For more information, visit:  www.feig.de/en

Founded in Moscow in 2002, ISBC Group provides knowledge and support to integrators for their successful implementation of RFID and smart card-based solutions. The company specializes in the distribution of smart card equipment, contact and contactless card manufacturing, smart card and RFID personalization services, and information security.  Its Research and Design Center is focused specifically on RFID, primarily HF and UHF solutions with NXP tags, and software development for the smart card industry. For more information visit:  https://isbc-cards.com/

← Previous Post

Next Post →

Privacy Overview

MOSCOW - RUSSIA

Ibls freight forwarding.

Tolbuchuna Street, 10 Bld 3, 121596 Moscow, Russia

• Phone: +7 8916 656-34-09
• email: [email protected]
• web: www.ibls.ru

Company Profile

• LIST WITH US

To: IBLS FREIGHT FORWARDING

Enter the security code:

+7 8916 656-34-09

Directory of Freight Forwarders, Cargo Agents, Shipping Companies, Air, Ocean, Land, Logistics and Transportation Brokers

City Innovation

Sergey Semyonovich Sobyanin

12,640,000 (2019)

Alexei Fursin

Improve service delivery

Simplify administrative procedures for firms and residents

Engage residents and other stakeholders

Focus on measurement

Human resource support

Spotlight on innovation in Moscow

The Integrated Medical Information and Analytical System (IMIAS) improves the quality of healthcare delivery in Moscow by centralizing the electronic medical records of Muscovites. IMIAS not only facilitates easy access to healthcare services online such as locating the nearest medical institutions, scheduling an appointment, or accessing medical e-records, but also reduces the administrative burden on medical personnel. By continuously updating non-sensitive data from patients in real time, the system provides the authorities with key performance metrics like the number of patients, waiting times, length of visits and estimated cost savings, which can be used to improve Moscow’s healthcare system.

Vision and approach to innovation capacity

Along with 50% of cities surveyed, Moscow does not have an explicit innovation strategy . Similar to more than half of cities surveyed, Moscow approaches innovation capacity both from a holistic/macro level, as well as in specific policy areas.

Policy areas that Moscow is focused on

Development of innovation infrastructure and innovative businesses : The Moscow Innovation Cluster is a platform for introducing innovations and developing cooperation between large corporations, industry, SMEs, educational and scientific organizations, development institutions and the city. The cluster IT platform unites the entire innovation ecosystem of Moscow and provides new and unique opportunities for interaction between its actors. The platform provides companies with tools to build cooperation chains and create projects that can gain direct access to all government support measures; tools to promote their products and services; tools to interact with authorities, development institutions and state corporations; opportunities for concluding deals by means of a smart contract system.

Human capital : The Profliner system allows to build individual educational and professional trajectories from school to professional implementation. Among the main features of the system are: identifying talents, providing access to modern tools for career guidance; development of individual recommendations in accordance with the list of relevant and promising professions in Moscow, the possibility of selecting additional education, conducting specialized events and internships; providing direct communication with the employer, as well as providing opportunities for students to prove themselves and participate in exclusive events from leading employers.

Moscow utilizes 10 different innovation skills or roles

Moscow has several organizations dedicated to innovation, including the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Development Department, IT Department, Moscow Agency of Innovation and Moscow Innovation Cluster.

Terms Moscow most associates with innovation

Moscow's most common innovation activities.

Taking risks or testing new ideas

Data-driven analytics/public data management

Engaging residents in new ways

Developing new solutions based on digital technologies

Organizational change within the municipality

Human-centered design

Rethinking your city’s approach to financing partnerships

How is innovation funded here?

Like 81% of cities surveyed, Moscow has dedicated funding to support innovation capacity.

Top sources of funding

Activities being funded.

Similar to 61% of participating cities in the 2020 survey, Moscow's funding for innovation capacity is also directed towards training staff and building capacity*.

*"Training staff and building capacity" is not an option in the 2018 survey, while "Launching or sustaining a project" is not an option in the 2020 survey.

How is innovation measured?

Moscow has developed partnerships to promote innovation capacity with other public agencies, private firms and city residents/resident associations.

To improve data use, the city has also developed data partnerships with the private sector, academia and think tanks, to collect and analyze data, as well as with other cities.

Data availability by policy area

Sufficient data.

Transport/Mobility

Economic Development

Policing and law enforcement

Government finance

Waste and sewage

Social welfare/social services

Social inclusion and equity

Labour market and skills

Built environment

Digital governance

Public works

Environment and climate change

No Response

The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News

Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter

site categories

Inside disney imagineering and the tech that could power the company’s $60b parks bet.

New robots and an ominidirectional treadmill-like floor, which could help engineers walk through potential designs for new parks, are among the newer innovations.

By Caitlin Huston

Caitlin Huston

Business Writer

• Share this article on Facebook
• Share this article on Twitter
• Share this article on Flipboard
• Share this article on Email
• Show additional share options
• Share this article on Linkedin
• Share this article on Pinit
• Share this article on Reddit
• Share this article on Tumblr
• Share this article on Whatsapp
• Share this article on Print
• Share this article on Comment

On a recent tour of the Disney Imagineering headquarters in Glendale, Calif., Lanny Smoot, a Disney research fellow, appeared to be walking in place, as each tile on a small patch of flooring tilted and pivoted with him, in response to his every movement. 

Smoot is one of several thousand employees globally who are part of Disney’s Imagineering unit, which designs, builds and imagines the technology, creative and conceptual designs behind new theme parks, attractions, cruise ships and resorts. 

Related Stories

Disney bets $60b its parks will power the future, disney entertainment cto aaron laberge exits to join penn entertainment.

And some of the innovations already in the works, which include Smoot’s HoloTile Floor and a gregarious, fast-learning robot, could provide Disney with a blueprint for moving forward.

During The Hollywood Reporter ‘s visit to one of the Imagineering buildings, Smoot explained that the small circle of tiles that make up the HoloTile Floor allow a person to move in any direction on the floor by using LiDAR technology to track that person’s actions and tell the tiles how to counter those movements. While the demo floor is small, the tiles can also be built out and expanded to any size.

The team is beginning to use it as a design tool, because when paired with a virtual reality headset, Imagineers can walk through a model of a new possible attraction or park and get a feel for it. 

“This floor will allow the Imagineers to be able to design parks quickly, efficiently and to be able to walk through things that they’ve not yet built,” said Smoot, who is also the co-inventor of the project. 

With the LIDAR technology tracking my movements, I was directed to put out my hand, as if casting a spell, and, in tandem, a box slid across the floor, a possible use-case which the engineers say “gives guests access to superpowers.” Because it can be used to move static objects, such as a chair, across the tiles, Imagineers have also thought about using it to turn everyday objects into possible rides. 

Moving through the expansive warehouse, we walked past a cluster of prototypes for the Spider-Man Stuntronics robot, which progress from a stick-like object to the human-sized figure that now leaps off buildings as part of a show at Avengers Campus at California Adventure . One of the prototypes is signed by both Tom Holland and Kevin Feige, president of Marvel studios. 

In the corner stood a giant Hulk-sized character suit, which has previously been tested in the parks, but has not yet become part of the regular rotation. This fits into the larger goal of the unit, explained at the beginning of the tour, which is to move quickly from idea to prototype and then to test it out.  

Then, a high-pitched squeaking rang out down the corridor.

The robot is one of the Stars Wars’ BDX droids, which are currently being play tested – meaning brought to parks to interact with guests for a specific period of time  – and making daily appearances at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland Park through early June. 

The droids are battery powered and can walk around the grounds for close to two hours, with a human guiding its movements with a game-like controller. 

As explained by Moritz Bächer, an associate lab director at Disney Research, who is typically based in Zurich, Imagineers take procedural or cinematic animation and put that in a simulation environment to train the robots, which can imitate the artist-provided motions within two days. Certain moods can also be overlayed, so the robot’s actions are more cautious, for example, when interacting with a more timid guest.

The idea is to make it into a type of character in the park, rather than just serving as a piece of new technology. 

The droids were built and play tested in less than a year. And given the speed at which it can be built and can learn new movements, using reinforcement learning, the plan is to introduce more. 

“That’s basically a technology that scales pretty well and can be applicable to many characters, not just this one,” Bächer said. 

THR Newsletters

Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Pinewood toronto studios names new general manager, warner bros. discovery jumps into data-driven advertising business with new tool olli, prime video adds live nhl hockey games in canada, gayle nachlis, former wma agent and women in film exec, dies at 72, writers guild of canada overwhelmingly votes to authorize strike over ai, fair pay, comcast president deflects m&a talk, reiterates focus on growing existing businesses.

Search Results

• KEYNOTE SPEECH

Innovation, integration and independence: taking the Single Euro Payments Area to the next level

Speech by piero cipollone, member of the executive board of the ecb, at the ecb conference on “an innovative and integrated european retail payments market”.

Frankfurt, 24 April 2024

It is a great pleasure to welcome you to this conference today.

The Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) was launched in 2002, aiming to address the fragmentation in non-cash payments that prevailed at the time. Payments between euro area countries were slower, more cumbersome and more expensive than domestic payments. And yet, many market participants questioned the merits of the project: will SEPA make payment services more efficient? Will it make the economy more competitive? And will it deliver real benefits to customers?

Fast-forward to today and it is clear that the initial scepticism was unfounded. We no longer differentiate between national and cross-border payments in euro for credit transfers and direct debits [ 1 ] . And people really appreciate the benefits of these two payment services for seamless money transfers across Europe.

However, SEPA has fallen short when it comes to digital payments that are even more central to our daily lives: there is no SEPA at the point of interaction, namely for in-store, mobile or e-commerce payments. Person-to-person (P2P) solutions also remain fragmented.

Most European retail payment solutions are focused on national markets, covering only some use cases and lacking pan-European reach. Because of this fragmentation, cross-border transactions within the euro area have become dependent on a very small number of non-European market players. This hampers competition, innovation and resilience. Moreover, the digitalisation of payments is undermining the crucial role cash plays in financial inclusion. After all, it is the only means of payment that has legal tender status and can be used by anyone, anywhere in the euro area, free of charge.

As a result, we are once again at a crossroads. And just like in the past, the added value of taking SEPA to the next level is now being questioned: do we really need a Single Euro Payments Area at the point of interaction? Do we really need a digital euro?

The answer, much like two decades ago, is an unequivocal yes. We cannot afford to settle for the status quo. And we should ask ourselves some hard questions: why aren’t European retail payment solutions and platforms able to compete at the global level? Today, the market capitalisation of the largest European bank is several times lower than that of the dominant international card schemes. European payment solutions struggle to compete with these non-European payment providers even within Europe, while in the United States new retail payments companies succeed in scaling up rapidly. [ 2 ]

In my remarks today, I will argue that this has to do with the difficulty European payment service providers (PSPs) have in reaching pan-European scale. And I will advocate a comprehensive vision encompassing both public and private retail payments. Our goal is clear: to further integrate European payments with a view to supporting competition and innovation, while reducing excessive dependencies. Payments offer significant scope to deepen the Single Market in the interest of users and to enhance the competitiveness of European financial services. [ 3 ]

To emulate the success we had with the launch of the SEPA project, we need to resist the temptation to preserve the status quo. Instead, we must act, relying on the combined knowledge, expertise and efforts of both public authorities and private intermediaries to achieve a single area for retail payments in euro. The benefits in the medium and long run will be much greater than the initial investment costs.

The ECB is today calling on the payments industry to redouble its efforts.

Retail payments remain fragmented and dominated by a few non-European players

Despite the integration of the euro retail payments market over the past 15 years [ 4 ] , today’s ecosystem is facing three major challenges.

Fragmentation along national lines

First, European payment solutions remain fragmented along national lines.

Currently, European solutions for payments at the point of interaction, whether in physical shops, mobile or e-commerce, are scarce and mostly confined within national borders. [ 5 ] And we do not have a European digital solution for P2P payments covering the entire euro area. Instead of joining forces and sharing resources to develop pan-European solutions, national communities have often preferred to preserve the legacy of investments made in the past.

Consequently, citizens who live, work, travel or shop online in another euro area country find themselves reliant on very few, non-European solutions. And small companies that consider expanding their business across borders or online may be more reluctant to do so given the need to rely on those solutions and bear the associated costs.

We are thus in a paradoxical situation: the fragmentation of European payment solutions along national lines stands in the way of deepening the Single Market and further digitalising the economy. But efforts to reduce barriers to trade and accelerate digitalisation within the EU generate additional revenue for the few non-European players that currently make it possible to pay in shops and online across Europe, entrenching their dominant position. Some of the benefits of digitalisation and market integration are thus at risk of not reaching European consumers and instead growing the rents of non-European players.

Limited competition at the point of interaction

Second, the failure of European payment solutions to achieve pan-European scale, and often to even go beyond their domestic market, has resulted in limited competition at the point of interaction.

This issue is particularly pronounced for card payments, which, in terms of value, now account for the majority of retail payment transactions. [ 6 ] Their share in the total number of digital transactions has also been increasing, while that of credit transfers and direct debits has receded (Chart 1).

Payments per digital transaction type in the euro area

Source: ECB statistics.

According to the most recent data, international card schemes account for close to two-thirds (64%) of all electronically initiated transactions with cards issued in the euro area. [ 7 ] And 13 out of the 20 euro area countries rely on them entirely due to the absence of a national card scheme (Figure 1). The share of international card schemes is likely to grow further [ 8 ] , as even the largest domestic card schemes are losing market share [ 9 ] . The latter should be wary of this development: while for the time being they maintain a steady revenue stream as card transaction values and volumes increase, this may well change once the market matures.

National card schemes

Source: ECB data.

Competition is also hampered by barriers to entry, which hinder the emergence of new competitors. For instance, in the case of contactless transactions, which are rapidly becoming the new norm in card payments, potential new entrants face the challenge of costly and time-consuming terminal updates. The lack of a widely available European open near-field communication (NFC) kernel further compounds this issue, forcing new entrants who want to offer contactless payments with mobile devices in stores to either abandon their efforts or depend on existing kernels provided by competitors.

Limited competition in card payments translates into higher fees. According to a recent study by the European Commission, the average net merchant service charges applied by card schemes in the EU almost doubled between 2018 and 2022 (from 0.27% to 0.44%) [ 10 ] , resulting in significant additional costs for merchants. [ 11 ] When those are passed on to consumers, the effect is similar to a consumption tax, albeit one that does not benefit European governments. Furthermore, European merchants criticise the complexity and opacity of card scheme fees, which make it difficult to understand why they are charged so much.

The lack of competition is a problem in other segments, too, such as e-commerce, mobile and P2P payments. While some national initiatives have seen success in specific use cases [ 12 ] , they fall short when competing with global players on a pan-European scale.

Moreover, big techs entering payments creates further risks, as they could leverage their dominant positions in neighbouring markets and their closed ecosystems. For instance, Apple’s significant market power in smart mobile devices and its dominant position in mobile wallet markets on the iOS operating system have raised concerns about anticompetitive behaviour. [ 13 ] It led to the opening of a formal antitrust investigation in connection with Apple Pay, the only mobile wallet solution that Apple allows to access the NFC antenna on iOS devices. [ 14 ]

Dependence on non-European payment providers

The dependence on non-European players is the third major challenge for euro area retail payments. Openness to global competition is essential for fostering innovation. But without a genuine pan-European alternative to international card schemes, payments are more expensive for consumers and merchants. And an overreliance on non-European providers makes our payments and financial system more vulnerable to external disruptions. European alternatives would improve the resilience of the euro area and the Single Market to such disruptions. And it would increase Europe’s ability to set its own standards, rather than depending on standards established elsewhere.

Europeans should have more control over an asset as crucial to our economy and society as payments.

The Eurosystem’s response: our retail payments strategy and digital euro project

To tackle these challenges effectively, we must take decisive action to move away from the status quo. And I would like to thank Commissioner McGuinness and the European Commission as a whole for their continuous support and legislative ambition in this regard.

At the ECB we envisage a future where retail payments are faster, cheaper, easier and more resilient, thanks to a diversity of pan-European means of payment using European infrastructure. And we do not want this to happen ten years from now, but much sooner. An old proverb says: “the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, the second-best time is now”. Digitalisation and geopolitics are not standing still. This is why our strategy aims at fostering integration, innovation and independence, all for the benefit of users.

Our proposal encompasses two complementary transformation policies, mirroring the dual pillars of the financial system: public money and private money. These policies are not contradictory by nature; rather, they complement each other and enhance the overall functioning of the European retail payment system.

Our policy on public money

On the public money side, the Eurosystem maintains a steadfast commitment to issuing cash. Our pledge [ 15 ] is to ensure that cash remains widely available and accepted as both a means of payment and a store of value. Therefore, the ECB strongly supports [ 16 ] the establishment of rules on the legal tender status of euro banknotes and coins across the euro area.

Banknotes have played a crucial role in integrating payments within the euro area for over two decades, by providing a simple and universally accepted payment method. As we transition into the digital age, it is imperative that we preserve the same level of integration and ensure that our currency remains future-proof. There is no reason why public money should not go digital in keeping with all the other forms of payment. We need to adapt to evolving consumer preferences, which are increasingly digital. So the status quo is no longer a viable option.

This is why we have launched the digital euro project, currently in its preparatory phase. [ 17 ] A digital form of cash holds the promise of preserving the pivotal role of central bank money (Figure 2).

Digital euro, a digital form of cash

Source: ECB.

First and foremost, a digital euro would provide unparalleled pan-European reach, ensuring that payments can be conducted seamlessly anytime, anywhere within the euro area, for all types of digital payments (Table 1).

Availability of the digital euro in all retail payment scenarios in the euro area

Comparison of the availability of the main retail payment methods across retail payment scenarios

Notes: *Only proximity transactions, unless mailing cash. **Where accepted. ***Only through co-branding with international schemes.

Moreover, as a public good, a digital euro would be provided to citizens free of charge for basic use. Crucially, a digital euro would uphold stringent privacy and inclusion standards, safeguarding user data and rights in the digital age.

Furthermore, a digital euro caters to a diverse range of payment scenarios, covering everything from online transactions to in-store purchases and P2P payments, both online and offline. The offline digital euro will provide a level of privacy very close to cash, while also contributing to resilience and inclusion.

Unlike existing payment methods, a digital euro would offer a comprehensive solution that aims to meet all – rather than just a few – of the evolving needs of modern consumers. Besides covering point-of-sale, e-commerce and P2P payments across the euro area, it would offer seamlessly integrated online and offline functionalities, ensuring that transactions would not be interrupted − even in a situation of limited network coverage or a power outage. No existing payment method offers all these benefits at once.

Finally, the digital euro will leave no one behind. Promoting digital financial inclusion is a fundamental principle underlying the concept of a digital euro, as also reflected in the relevant draft regulation. [ 18 ]

The Eurosystem is thus committed to offering a digital euro app in an inclusive and accessible way for people with low digital and financial skills and resources, as well as those with disabilities or functional limitations and the elderly. While private intermediaries will be able to integrate digital euro services into their own banking apps and wallets, a digital euro app offered by the Eurosystem would not only support accessibility – a feature that is important to consumers [ 19 ] – but also ensure that public money remains tangible for people by ensuring a harmonised, baseline user experience across the euro area. It would be made available in at least all official languages of the EU and be designed such that everybody will immediately recognise the digital euro, just as everybody can recognise euro banknotes today. And smaller PSPs that lack the resources to develop their own front-end solutions would be able to distribute digital euro services through the digital euro app. This app is thus essential for achieving the objectives of the digital euro.

At the same time, the app offered by the Eurosystem would not impinge on the relationship between PSPs and their customers: it would merely provide a uniform point of entry allowing users to interact with their PSP via a smartphone, for example to display information or initiate payments. [ 20 ] Moreover, PSPs will be free to provide customised value-added services in their own apps and wallets, going beyond the basic payment functionalities supported by the digital euro app.

Our policy on private money: the retail payments strategy

While the digital euro complements private solutions by giving citizens an additional option for digital payments, it alone cannot resolve all the challenges facing European payments today and in the future.

That’s why our vision on payments entails a strategy [ 21 ] centred on fostering the development of privately operated, European-governed, pan-European payment solutions at the point of interaction.

The Eurosystem supports market-led initiatives that meet a set of requirements it has defined for a European solution at the point of interaction. [ 22 ] The ECB therefore welcomed the European Payments Initiative (EPI), which has recently made further significant progress towards a European-grown instant payment solution, including the establishment of EPI Company, development of its brand, completion of acquisitions [ 23 ] , and the pilot of instant P2P transactions. The ECB encourages EPI to continue its progress and to expand its geographical coverage to achieve pan-European reach.

Furthermore, the ECB views initiatives by mobile payment solutions and third-party providers favourably, recognising that they may enhance competition at the point of interaction. For instance, a recent collaboration involving three national mobile payment solutions [ 24 ] seeks to achieve interoperability in P2P transactions as a first step − and potentially also interoperability at the point of interaction in the coming years. Interoperability could be viewed as an intermediate step towards merging into a single payment solution.

While these European initiatives demonstrate market vitality, we need to avoid fragmentation. The division of consumers and merchants along geographical lines – with national communities joining solutions that cover only parts of the euro area – runs counter to the Eurosystem’s vision of pan-European reach. This fragmentation would also prevent payment solutions from taking advantage of the sheer scale of the Single Market.

So how can we avoid this undesired outcome and move towards a win-win situation for all payment providers?

One solution is to further develop the interoperability between conceptually different solutions. But we would need to see that this approach generates sufficient resources to sustain a common governance, shared functions and product innovation. Furthermore, some countries have national solutions with low market shares while others have none at all.

Therefore, while working to make progress on their current plans, private initiatives and national communities could consider joining forces to create strong integrated solutions and aim for pan-European reach within a reasonably short time horizon. Although this has not materialised so far, it could be short-sighted to stick to positions taken in the past rather than grasp the opportunities offered by a landscape in transformation.

Our policy on the complementarity of public and private money

The public sector can facilitate such initiatives to reach pan-European scale. In particular, the digital euro could play a key role in shaping open standards. This could allow intermediaries to optimise their implementation strategies and unlock both technological and monetary benefits.

To ensure a seamless implementation of the digital euro and a consistent payment experience across the euro area, the Eurosystem is actively working on a digital euro rulebook. This rulebook will implement common standards in the EU acceptance network. It will be designed to leverage existing standards while also preserving ample flexibility for the market to innovate and develop additional solutions. [ 25 ]

The digital euro rulebook, along with a robust infrastructure provided by the Eurosystem, would allow private providers to reach pan-European scale with their own payment solutions, achieving cost efficiencies and contributing to an integrated European payment market. This infrastructure would serve as a catalyst for innovation, enabling the development of new value-added services tailored to customers' needs emerging in the digital age. We envision the digital euro infrastructure as being like a unified European railway network, where various companies can operate their own trains delivering additional services to their customers.

Imagine the following possibilities: innovative front-end solutions designed for conditional payments, functionalities enabling effortless bill-splitting among friends and family, or micropayment applications making it easier to buy online content and services. These innovations could enhance the overall user experience, enable new business models and drive greater convenience in our day-to-day transactions.

Some of these innovative and value-added services are already present in some countries, but it is very expensive for the providers to expand their services across the entire euro area. On the one hand, the possibility to leverage the open digital euro infrastructure would ensure the necessary standardisation, the lack of which currently hinders innovation; on the other, it would enable private retail payment solutions to launch new products and functionalities immediately on a broader scale. This would give users access to a wider array of services and result in greater competition and innovation on a continental scale. It would also mitigate our current dependence on a few non-European providers.

For example, an open digital euro infrastructure would allow a Belgian citizen to open an account with a payment service provider in Spain that may offer services not yet available on the Belgian market. And new services could be developed such as automatic refunds when rail journeys or flights are delayed.

In addition, private sector players could also review and enrich the portfolio of their payments products in private money, providing customers with new options like rewards, bonuses and subscriptions. Or they could explore the cross-selling of core business products. Also, the competitive rush towards the use of friendly and secure technologies could improve customer experience.

Beyond the point of interaction: strengthening the “classic SEPA”

But our retail payments strategy extends beyond the point of interaction. The second major goal of the Eurosystem’ strategy is to strengthen the “classic SEPA” framework, which provides the backbone for innovative European payments. SEPA has been a joint undertaking since the beginning. Both private and public clearing and settlement mechanisms have contributed to pan-European reach and resilience.

A key priority within this framework is the full deployment of instant payments. However, their roll-out has so far not enabled users to take full advantage of the important benefits that instant payments could generate. For instance, instant payments give consumers a clearer picture of their finances. And for businesses, they reduce the amount of money locked in processing, allowing for better cash and liquidity management and reducing the need for overdraft facilities. Instant payments can also trigger faster deliveries and real-time reconciliation of payments, as well as increasing the digitalisation of corporate supply chains. The ECB welcomes the recent regulation on instant payments [ 26 ] , which aims to address obstacles such as the fragmented adherence of PSPs to the scheme and limiting transaction fees for payers.

Additionally, ongoing initiatives such as the SEPA Payment Account Access (SPAA) scheme contribute to enhancing independence and innovation. The scheme leverages “open banking” principles in payments. For a fee, participants can exchange data related to payment accounts and initiate payment transactions with premium features. SPAA-based payment solutions can provide a variety of account-to-account payment options as an alternative to cards at the point of interaction. The ECB welcomes this innovative European road to “open banking” and encourages market players to join the scheme.

However, the effectiveness of new schemes can sometimes fall short of expectations. For instance, PSPs implement proprietary solutions instead of using the newly designed SEPA schemes. Or key users discard core features of the instant payments scheme intended to offer functionalities equal to or better than those of traditional cards.

Beyond these particular cases, clarifying the reasons for such shortcomings may be worthwhile. The Eurosystem stands ready to help reflect on how to improve payment-related schemes.

Preparing for the transformation

Addressing these challenges and fulfilling our common vision for the future of retail payments requires industry readiness. The oft-voiced argument that resources are constrained points to the need for a shift in perspective. While past resource allocations may seem entrenched, we are entering a new phase in payments that demands additional efforts, re-allocation of resources and proper planning from industry stakeholders.

Moreover, confining these investments to national level is neither efficient nor sustainable, especially in the light of the significant influence wielded by non-EU players in the digital landscape. Opting for joint EU investments and leveraging economies of scale would enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of our common efforts. And aligning these investments with the introduction of the digital euro would further maximise outcomes.

But it is crucial to recognise that this is not solely about costs. Just as SEPA facilitated the adoption of new standards and honed skills in the payments sector, the integration of private and public solutions at the point of interaction can foster innovation and resilience, and benefit the economy.

Let me conclude. Innovative, integrated and independent retail payments are crucial components of our monetary system.

Indeed, as Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa cautioned over two decades ago, “ Public confidence in the currency could be endangered if retail payment [instruments and] systems were inefficient, impractical for users or unsafe. ” [ 27 ]

The efforts made since then including the establishment of SEPA and the widespread acceptance of cash as a universally accepted payment method, were crucial for achieving a higher level of integration and efficiency in European retail payments.

However, we now stand at a crossroads as payments transition into the digital era, with the risk of crowding out public money, and European providers fail to be competitive on a pan-European, let alone global, scale.

To address these challenges, we have set up two transformation strategies: the digital euro and the retail payments strategy, the latter focusing on private pan-European payment solutions at the point of interaction. The digital euro will not only give European citizens more freedom of choice and the ability to pay with a secure solution that is widely accepted throughout the entire euro area. It will also establish a common infrastructure with pan-European reach, on which private intermediaries can build to offer competitive and innovative private payment solutions across Europe.

Today we need to take SEPA to the next level, at the point of interaction, through the digital euro and private pan-European payment solutions. Public-private cooperation can achieve greater integration, innovation and independence in payments, to the benefit of consumers and payment service providers. Together we can recapture the original spirit of SEPA.

Direct debits allow customers to authorise companies or organisations to take money directly from their payment accounts to pay their bills.

For instance, Stripe – which was established by Irish entrepreneurs – scaled up rapidly in the United States and is currently valued at USD 65 billion.

Letta, E. (2024), “ Much More than a Market – Speed, Security, Solidarity: Empowering the Single Market to deliver a sustainable future and prosperity for all EU Citizens ”, high-level report on the future of the Single Market .

The Payment Services Directive 2007/64/EC entered into force in 2009, creating a harmonised legal framework for the provision of payment services in the European Union.

There are notable exceptions of European providers going beyond the country of origin, such as Bluecode, Satispay and a few others.

The SPACE 2022 study shows that in terms of value of payments, cards (46%) accounted for a higher share of transactions than cash payments (42%). Card payments were used in 34% of point-of-sale transactions, up from 19% in 2016 and 25% in 2019. For payments over €50, cards were the most frequently used method.

Volume share of international card schemes in total electronically initiated card payments with cards issued in the euro area and transactions acquired worldwide for the first half of 2023. Based on data collected under Regulation (EU) No 1409/2013 of the European Central Bank on payments statistics (ECB/2013/43), as amended.

Börsen-Zeitung (2024), “Visa is investing billions to increase acceptance”, 14 February.

Le Parisien (2024), “CB, Visa et Mastercard: la guerre des cartes bancaires fait peur aux commerçants”, 22 March.

European Commission (2024), Study on new developments in card-based payment markets, including as regards relevant aspects of the application of the Interchange Fee Regulation - Final Report , February.

A rough estimate suggests that card schemes’ revenues from merchant services charges in the euro area may have increased by more than €7 billion between 2018 and 2022, reflecting both the increase in fees per transaction and the increase in the value of card transactions. In 2022, card payments amounted to €2.74 trillion in the euro area, compared with €1.8 trillion in 2018 (source: ECB Payments Statistics).

For instance, Bizum in P2P payments, iDEAL in e-commerce.

European Commission (2024), “Antitrust: Commission seeks feedback on commitments offered by Apple over practices related to Apple Pay” , press release, 19 January.

For details on the investigation, see the Commission’s website . See also the letter sent by Piero Cipollone to Commission Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager and his letter to Commissioner Thierry Breton regarding the commitments offered by Apple over access restrictions to NFC technology.

Further details on the Eurosystem cash strategy can be found on the ECB’s website .

Opinion of the European Central Bank of 13 October 2023 on a proposal for a regulation on the legal tender of euro banknotes and coins (CON/2023/31) .

Further details on the digital euro project can be found on the ECB’s website .

Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of the digital euro .

BEUC (2023), “ Digital euro: BEUC’s recommendation on the legislative framework for the digital euro ”, Position paper , September.

See ECB (2023), “ A stocktake on the digital euro ”, 18 October.

ECB (2023), " The Eurosystem's retail payments strategy - priorities for 2024 and beyond ".

(1) Pan-European reach and customer experience; (2). convenience and cost-efficiency; (3) safety and security; (4) European brand and governance; (5) global acceptance (in the long run).

ECB (2023) “ ECB welcomes the EPI’s progress on building a European payment solution ”, MIP news, 25 April.

SIBS, BANCOMAT and BIZUM (2023) “ Leading European mobile payment solutions MB WAY, BANCOMAT Pay, and BIZUM establish a partnership for interoperability ”, 14 December.

For details on governance and stakeholders, see the ECB’s website .

Regulation (EU) 2024/886 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 March 2024 amending Regulations (EU) No 260/2012 and (EU) 2021/1230 and Directives 98/26/EC and (EU) 2015/2366 as regards instant credit transfers in euro .

BIS (2003), Policy issues for central banks in retail payments , March.

Related topics

• Payment systems
• Instant payments
• Digital euro

Disclaimer Please note that related topic tags are currently available for selected content only.

European Central Bank

Directorate general communications.

• Sonnemannstrasse 20
• 60314 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
• +49 69 1344 7455
• [email protected]

Reproduction is permitted provided that the source is acknowledged.

Our website uses cookies

We are always working to improve this website for our users. To do this, we use the anonymous data provided by cookies. Learn more about how we use cookies

We have updated our privacy policy

We are always working to improve this website for our users. To do this, we use the anonymous data provided by cookies. See what has changed in our privacy policy

Your cookie preference has expired

More From Forbes

The power of incremental progress in ai integration.

• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to Linkedin

Eddy Azad is CEO at Parsec Automation , the developer of TrakSYS™, a leading real-time operations & performance management software.

In our fascination with disruptive technology, I find that the dramatic allure of innovation can often overshadow the subtle yet potent efficacy of incremental progress.

As the CEO of a company that supports optimized manufacturing practices, I am deeply involved in helping others integrate advanced technology. As a result, I've observed firsthand the importance of pacing your adoption process in order to ensure that your resulting technological implementations are both effective and sustainable. Through a measured approach and careful planning, I am confident that you can better capitalize on your technological investments and avoid becoming overwhelmed.

This measured approach is especially critical in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI), where the rush toward game-changing breakthroughs can often obscure the benefits of gradual, steady advancements. By focusing on step-by-step integration, I believe you can better ensure that any newly adopted AI tools are enhancing your operations and driving long-term success.

Redefining Success with AI

The narrative surrounding AI has predominantly focused on transformative achievements, setting a benchmark that seems to equate success with radical change. However, I find that this view can inadvertently set unrealistic expectations , suggesting that only monumental advancements are of value.

In contrast, the merits of incrementalism lie in its ability to foster continuous learning, improvement and adaptation. Small, consistent steps forward enable organizations to integrate AI into their operations seamlessly, mitigating risks, enhancing long-term resilience and getting planned-for outcomes.

The Best Romantic Comedy Of The Last Year Just Hit Netflix

Rudy giuliani and mark meadows indicted in arizona fake electors case, tupac shakur s estate challenges drake over ai vocals in kendrick lamar diss song, the case for incremental ai implementation.

1. Risk management. I believe that implementing AI in manageable phases allows organizations to evaluate and mitigate risks more effectively. This approach, championed by even some leaders in the military, helps facilitate the identification and resolution of issues in real time, preventing the compounding of errors and reducing the potential for significant setbacks.

2. Learning curve. I also find that gradual adoption helps teams embrace new technologies with less resistance and disruption (registration required). It provides the time and space for employees to understand and leverage AI tools effectively, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

3. Sustainable growth. Incremental improvements can lead to significant compounded gains over time. This methodical approach provides a stable foundation for future innovations, ensuring that each step is built on a solid understanding and integration of AI capabilities.

Practical Illustrations Of Incremental AI Implementation

Consider a manufacturing firm that starts by concentrating on improving the yield of a single production line using AI. This focused approach allows them to monitor performance, make adjustments and evaluate the impact on productivity before scaling up.

Similarly, a retail business might introduce AI-driven analytics in one store location to enhance inventory management and customer service. Success in this controlled setting paves the way for a gradual rollout, minimizing disruption and maximizing learning opportunities.

These scenarios represent simple yet practical use cases for how organizations across different sectors can strategically implement AI in phases. As can be seen, starting small can make it easier to assess a technology's effectiveness, adapt to its demands and expand its application with greater confidence and fewer risks.

Change Management: The Cornerstone Of Successful Integration

Successful AI adoption ultimately hinges on effective change management. Aligning the rate of technological advancement with your organization’s capacity to manage change ensures a smoother transition and more favorable outcomes.

Therefore, prioritize planning and doing everything you can to support your team when it comes to incorporating AI. Fostering acceptance and effective utilization of new technologies goes hand-in-hand with incremental integration.

Finding Your Pace In The AI Journey

Navigating the AI journey at a comfortable pace can enable your businesses to leverage the technology effectively, ensuring advancements beyond the status quo.

While I understand how ambitious leaps may seem appealing, I find that more deliberate progress is often more sustainable and impactful. I urge businesses to look toward practices of incremental improvement as a strategic pathway to long-term success.

Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?

• Editorial Standards
• Reprints & Permissions