The impressive data, revealed at the Nordic EV summit in Oslo last week, is reportedly better than expected from the ferry – which was launched in 2015, and is called Ampere – and has resulted 53 further orders for Noregian shipbuilder Fjellstrand.
Norled itself has obviously been happy with the performance of the ferry, having already commissioned another, called Elektra, which was launched last year.
As Elektrek explains, the ferry is the fruit of a partnership between Norled, Fjellstrand Shipyard, Siemens and Corvus Energy – the latter two of which developed the boat’s electric powertrain and battery system, giving it more than 1 MWh of capacity.
The website also notes that ferries are prefect candidates for electrification, due to the fact that they often travel short distances and dock for relatively long periods of time at established ports, where they can be charged.
Elektrek says that Norled have been charging their ferries through battery packs at each port, which helps maintain a high charge rate while reducing peak demand costs.
And they are not the only electric ferries around. In 2017, ABB was working on converting two of Sweden’s HH Ferries Group’s massive ferries from diesel engines to 100 per cent battery-powered.
New large all-electric container barges dubbed ‘Tesla ships’ are also launching this autumn and an new all-electric cargo ship with a massive 2.4 MWh battery pack recently launched in China.
If you ask me, things are becoming extremely interesting on this front.
And just last month, Dutch company Port Liner revealed that five autonomous electric barges were set to begin operating between the De Kempen intermodal terminal in the south of the Netherlands and Antwerp beginning in August of this year.
Cleantechnica reports that the “Tesla Barges” have – designed to fit beneath the many bridges found in the Netherlands and Belgium – are expected to displace as many as 23,000 trucks, most of them diesel powered, from area roads.
And, of course, China is in the game, having launched the world’s first electric cargo ship in December of last year, which it is using to ship… coal.
Sophie is editor of One Step Off The Grid and deputy editor of its sister site, Renew Economy. Sophie has been writing about clean energy for more than a decade.
This post was published on February 6, 2018 12:05 pm
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I live in Sydney, Sydney Ferries should be getting into this as well.
Agreed. But then they'll put the price point at a level where it's not appealing to 95% of commuters...
The Ferry fares go up every year by x%. A small 'premium' for environmentally, relaxing and visually friendly Ferry travel I wouldn't think would be a game changer for travellers. Not when you conside rthe alternatives ..driving and getting aggro stuck in Sydney traffic or take the bus / train if available. The Electric Ferry is winner in my book.
Like I said, I agree with you re. electric ferries/more ferries....
But having lived at the south end of the northern beaches I wanted to catch the ferry to circular quay (I mean, who wouldn't? It's probably the most picturesque public trans commute in the world!) but there's no way paying $7+ EACH WAY is a reasonable price. So yeah, I did consider the alternatives, and as a couple trying to save for a home deposit, we opted for the significantly lower bus.
Now, there are myriad of ways for govt. to get that price lower, but such a discussion warrants (and often gets) a whole article/internet forum thread on it...
Hi Grant, I live just up the road from you then, Dee Why area. Not being a Ferry traveller I had no idea about the $7.00 one way price tag...a bit of gouging / charging for the view? I love your picture with the bicycle. I am bicycle man myself. Ride safe, yes.
Looks like there is plenty of room above deck for PV. That would be a nice touch don't ya think?
My Solarman you have nailed it again.