Sustainable boating on Lake Como: Matteri’s pioneering vision from the 1980s to today

Erio Matteri, born in 1950, grew up surrounded by the scent of wood, a passion for hands-on craftsmanship, and the art of creating unique models—skills passed down from his grandfather Enrico and later rediscovered in his father Amos.

From as early as the 1960s, when he was just around ten years old, he would go to the shipyard every day after school. It was there that he witnessed the construction of a typical Lake Como boat, known as a Lancia, built by his grandfather for a client from Milan.

What truly captured his imagination, however, was that this fishing boat was powered by a small electric motor.

That childhood memory would later allow Erio to turn what had once been a child’s dream into a major project—one he could never have imagined would eventually become a real environmental necessity.

After becoming head of the shipyard in 1979, and already in the early 1980s, Erio responded to the growing demand for boats such as lance by fitting them with small electric propulsion systems instead of the traditional petrol outboard engines.

By the late 1980s, already established as one of the finest restorers and wooden boat builders, he took on the challenge of building a motor launch called Lo Spirito di Volta, 10 metres long and featuring a hull designed to minimise wake.

The real innovation, however, lay in its propulsion system: it was powered by a battery-driven electric motor.

Launched in 1989, the project stemmed from a new and innovative idea of an eco-friendly boat, designed to integrate seamlessly into any natural environment. One of its main goals was to propose a new, more sustainable concept of boating.

Construction of Lo Spirito di Volta was completed in 1990. Since then, the vessel has hosted numerous prestigious cruises, welcoming prominent figures such as Prince Albert of Monaco during major yachting events in the Principality, and Bill Gates during the launch of Windows ’95 at Villa d’Este in Cernobbio (Lake Como).

At the start of the project, the main partners involved in developing the electric propulsion system included Ansaldo Industria, the Bicocca Technology Incubators, and Magneti Marelli (now Exide).

In 1999, Erio Matteri was also contacted by Prof. Dr. Ing. Gaston Maggetto of Brussels—who sadly passed away prematurely—to provide consultancy on the potential application of electric–hydrogen fuel cell propulsion systems, in collaboration with organizations such as Citelec (Brussels), Ecocats (UK), the École Nationale Supérieure d’Électronique et de Radioélectricité de Bordeaux, ZEVCO (CM Italia), and ZeTek Power Plc (UK).

Numerous meetings were held both at the shipyard and in Brussels. However, Erio Matteri expressed his reservations about the feasibility of the project, remaining firmly committed to his vision of electric propulsion, which he still considered the only truly viable solution for recreational boating, as hydrogen-based systems were still in an experimental stage.

Matteri’s technological approach was not limited to electric propulsion alone, but also extended to the use of solar panels on several prototypes. In fact, with a model specifically designed for “solar navigation,” the shipyard went on to win all European competitions in its category between 2004 and 2006.

From that moment on, through moments of enthusiasm and deep disappointment, the journey has led to today, with concrete proposals and tangible, reliable, fully functional solutions. It is now possible to state with pride that, thanks to Erio Matteri, the electric boat is no longer just a concept but a reality accessible to a wide range of users.

The historic evolution of quality continues to live on today, as it did 160 years ago, through different product ranges that have enabled the integration of electric technology across the various boat lines produced by the Matteri shipyard. It was during those years that the ZEB® – Zero Emission Boats brand was born. At the same time, AIBE® (Associazione Italiana Barche Elettriche) was founded by Paola Matteri, Erio’s wife.

Over the years, electric-powered hull designs have increasingly required the development of new design and construction techniques, with particular attention to the placement of battery systems, ensuring that onboard livability and stability are not compromised.

The most popular models include the Gozzo 700, a boat built in fiberglass and fully finished in teak, capable of carrying up to eight people and offering outstanding range compared to any other vessel in its class.

Another important challenge was the development of a hybrid propulsion system, operating both in electric and diesel modes, designed to meet the needs of customers who, while environmentally conscious, had not yet fully embraced the advantages of fully electric navigation. This was also driven by the lack of charging infrastructure in many port areas.

Needs that were fully understood and embraced by Erio Matteri, who from the 1990s to today has brought numerous boat models to the market, built using ever more advanced and innovative technologies.

One of the key challenges faced by the Matteri shipyard in its collaboration with the public sector was the design and construction of a zero-emission catamaran, commissioned by the Adda Natural Park, with a capacity of up to 60 passengers.

The hull, consisting of two “pontoons,” was built using lightweight vacuum-infused composite materials and features a very light naval-grade aluminium superstructure, a design choice driven by the need for minimal draft due to shallow waters.

The propulsion system consists of two 10 kW electric motors, water-cooled, while the battery configuration allows the catamaran to reach a top speed of 8 knots when fully loaded, with an endurance of approximately 6 hours.

The control electronics have been designed to ensure maximum efficiency and to support navigation against the current. Addarella therefore provides the required functionality for excursions, tourist trips, and passenger transport in natural parks, river and lake environments, allowing passengers to enjoy natural beauty and tranquillity thanks to zero-emission technology—free from pollutants, mechanical noise, and wake generation—with one remarkable feature: its daily energy consumption does not exceed that of a hairdryer used continuously for two and a half hours.

A ZEB® boat currently under completion has been built using the most advanced technologies available on the market today.

The model is reminiscent of an early 20th-century Venetian water bus (vaporetto). It is 10 metres long overall and 2.20 metres wide, with a capacity of approximately 12–15 passengers. The vessel reaches a top speed of 9 knots, while at a cruising speed of 6 knots it can achieve up to 12 hours of autonomy.

This represents a blend of tradition, prestige, and innovation that, from the 1980s to today, has reached high levels of technological advancement and success. The vaporetto is in fact one of the few ZEB® vessels that can be brought to market, as it meets a wide range of navigation requirements.

On this hull, it is possible to install conventional batteries, thereby keeping costs under control: thanks to the particular shape of the hull, up to 22 quintals of batteries can be accommodated. It is somewhat paradoxical that, in order to achieve zero-emission navigation today, inspiration must be drawn from the past; indeed, the challenges faced by electric propulsion today are similar to those encountered a century ago with internal combustion engines.

This is a major milestone achieved by the Matteri shipyard after years of developing ZEB® vessels tailored to the specific needs of its clients.

We have designed, built, invented, and improved “concept boats,” stacked bedside piles of magazines enthusiastically featuring our work, and embarked on a pioneering ecological journey in complete solitude (entirely self-funded), at a time when waste sorting did not yet exist and Lake Como was still considered a natural dumping ground.

Our passion is what has allowed us to continue our projects, and we hope not to be forgotten—instead, to be recognised when the need for truly sustainable boating finally becomes a concrete reality.