Latest news with #electricferry
New York Times
04-07-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Could the Electric Hydrofoil Ferry Change the Way We Commute?
During the golden age for ferries in the 1800s, steamboats dotted the shorelines of coastal cities to transport passengers. Then cars and trains took over. Now, driven by congestion and the revitalization of urban waterfronts, ferries are making a comeback. 'We see it as a blue superhighway that is still untapped,' said Geoff Symonds, chief operating officer of Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, a ferry network based in London. Ferry commuting scores higher on customer satisfaction surveys than other modes of public transit, offering amenities like ample seating, space for bikes and breathtaking skyline views, and it was the first to return to prepandemic ridership levels in cities like New York, San Francisco, Stockholm and Auckland, New Zealand. What operators struggle to offer, however, is a fast, sustainable mode of transit. 'Commuters want speed,' said Jakob Kuttenkeuler, a professor of naval architecture at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. Over the last few months, however, Stockholm has been testing a vessel that may solve that problem: the world's first electric hydrofoil ferry. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
CTV News
17-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Hydrofoil passenger ferry could be coming to B.C. in the near future
The Artemis EF-12 Escape, a hydrofoil ferry produced by Artemis Technologies in Belfast, conducts a demo off of Victoria's Inner Harbour. The Artemis EF-12 Escape, a hydrofoil ferry produced by Artemis Technologies in Belfast, conducts a demo off of Victoria's Inner Harbour. The Artemis EF-12 Escape took to the waters off Victoria's Inner Harbour Monday, and could one day be the future of passenger-only ferry service in B.C. It's fully electric and equipped with hydrofoils, or wings, underneath its hull, lifting the vessel out of the water while at cruising speed. The hydrofoils dramatically reduce its drag while travelling through the water, allowing it to reach speeds of up to 30 knots. That's double the pace of a conventional ferry, all while using half the energy. FRS Clipper has partnered with Victoria-based consulting group Greenline Ferries in bringing Artemis Technologies and the Escape to B.C. The group is looking at the feasibility of using this technology in the Pacific Northwest. 'This could be a game changer for the number of routes that we can supply to British Columbians,' said Mark Collins, CEO of FRS Clipper. Collins said the technology is sustainable and cost-effective, with the price of a vessel being comparable to the cost of a conventional ferry, although it's operating costs are much less. FRS Clipper is considering an expansion between Bowen Island, Gibsons and downtown Vancouver. If that were to prove successful, the company said a route between Colwood's Beachlands development and Victoria's Inner Harbour would not be out of the question. 'We call them shortcuts, anywhere where you can connect the heart of one community to the heart of another community, that's the opportunity for a passenger-only ferry,' said Callum Campbell, CEO of Greenline Ferries. The Artemis EF-12 Escape is a water taxi version that could be configured to carry up to 30 passengers. FRS Clipper is exploring purchasing the EF-24 Passenger version that is capable of carrying up to 150 passengers, which Artemis will be rolling out later this year. 'It is a little small for our projections on the Victoria to Seattle route, however that doesn't say that one day there could be two or even three operating alongside each other providing more frequency and more choices,' said Collins. The seemingly floating vessel's technology could offer a smoother ride in rough waters with a lighter environmental footprint.
RNZ News
11-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Auckland's new electric ferries set to make waves worldwide
Auckland Transport's first electric ferry has touched water for the first time. Workers began the slow process of bringing the vessel from the McMullen & Wing shipyard factory floor into the nearby Tamaki River in Mt Wellington early Wednesday morning. The first of two fully electric ferries will undergo technical tests here over the coming weeks, before trialling its seaworthiness inside the Hauraki Gulf. "In about a month's time we'll be taking it down the river and charging up at Auckland Transport's new charging station in Half Moon Bay," said EV Maritime chief executive Michael Eaglen. "Then we'll be doing trialling more broadly on the Hauraki Gulf, which we're expecting to be handing over to Auckland Transport in probably around about three months' time. "These are highly automated boats, so you test all the automation systems, take it to the point where we can then hand it over to Auckland Transport who can bring their operator on board and get into crew training," he said. Auckland Transport ferry programme director Nathan Cammock said the main route the EV Maritime ferries will run will be between Half Moon Bay and downtown Auckland, although they may take the occasional trip to Devonport and Hobsonville Point. "They're designed for mid-harbour routes so those are routes between 30 to 45 minutes journey time." "These two new electric vessels will service the Half Moon Bay route and we may see them go to other destinations over time," said Cammock. He said each boat cost about $20 million. "The New Zealand government has provided the biggest contribution around two-thirds of the cost of each vessel, the remaining third is split between NZTA Waka Kotahi and Auckland Council. "So a lot of parties have come together to make sure this project is successful," he said. The first work on the boats began in 2022 and they could begin service before the end of year, although Auckland Transport said there was still no fixed date for when commercial sailing will start. "We're not keen to rush it, we want it fully tested and commissioned and any issues are worked out so when it's handed over to Auckland Transport its working as expected," said Cammock. The fully electric ferries were designed by EV Maritime, while the propulsion technology was created by HamiltonJet in Christchurch. The ferry is made from carbon-fibre composite will be able to reach speeds of up to 25 knots - or 46 km/h - with a capacity of 200 passengers. The ferries are expected to have a lifespan of more than 30 years. Auckland Transport said the batteries were anticipated to have a lifespan of about 10 years before requiring a replacement. Although Auckland Transport did expect newer, lighter and higher-capacity batteries to be available as technology advances. The EV Charger that will be used at the ferry terminals can operate at roughly 10 times the speed of a Tesla supercharger, rated at up to 3.3 megawatts. The ferries will charge while passengers board and disembark, needing 10 minutes of charge time to have enough power for a one-way journey. It is expected they will do eight return trips per day, meaning they will need to charge 16 times over the course of a day's service. McMullen & Wing director David Porter said today's launch was a success and showcased the strength of New Zealand innovation. "The day is a milestone in which we can show the world what is possible and I know there are people out there for some time, looking to ride on these ferry boats and be convinced that it all works," he said. "There's scepticism always in new technology but today we've taken a real step in proving that we're on our way." "There's a great team in the background, I don't build the boats, we've got a team that do. Michael's (Eaglen) team does the design work and it all fits in together and we've got a great group of really good contractors," said Porter. The New Zealand designed and made electric ferries were also world leading. Eaglen said the eyes of the world were eagerly watching the project, with only two or three other similar ventures known internationally. "This is a really high-profile project from an international ferry world perspective, as I said, there's been a lot of vehicle ferries electrified, but very few fast passenger ferries," he said. "We've got a lot of people very keenly aware of what we're doing here and very much looking forward to coming down here. "It's believed to be the first one going into a really rigourous, high-frequency core public transport service and it's also the first one to be using the new megawatt charging standard, which I think is going to be the new standard for electric ferry operations around the world. "So this is a really important demonstrator for EV Maritime as a project for our kind of export ambitions. "We're really grateful to the government and to Auckland Transport for supporting us with putting their faith in us for these first projects and helping us get these first boats in the water and demonstrated because that's how you grow an export industry, and that's what we're trying to do here," said Eaglen. Cammock said they were keen to support launch what could be a new industry for New Zealand. "It's a great example of New Zealand innovation... a great opportunity for a technology export industry to grow off the back of New Zealand's existing maritime industry. "EV Maritime have been proactive in the market and have got some early contracts overseas and we're looking forward to supporting that with these new boats going on the water," he said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- RNZ News
Auckland electric ferry hits water for first time
Auckland Transport's new electric ferry has hit the water for the first time. Workers began the slow process of bringing the vessel from the factory floor into the Tamaki River in Mt Wellington where it will undergo trials. It is hoped the New Zealand designed and made ferries will make ripples worldwide. Victor Waters reports. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Isle of Wight electric ferry praised as 'real step change'
Two-time Olympic sailing champion Iain Perry has said a new electric ferry for the Isle of Wight will be a "real step change".At a maritime industry event on the Isle of Wight, BBC South was invited onto a smaller, demonstration version of the craft as it made a short journey on the Solent. The new passenger ferry, with capacity for 150 people, is expected to begin crossings early next year. Fran Collins, CEO of Red Funnel, said she hoped the addition to the fleet would help the company move from a 35-minute to a 30-minute timetable. It comes after criticism from the prime minister, as well as Conservative MP for Isle of Wight East Joe said passengers had faced "excessive ferry prices and bad services," while Keir Starmer said services for islanders had "simply not been good enough."Red Funnel had previously apologised for "any inconvenience", and said it had "faced some challenges" and not met its punctuality Technologies, run by former Olympian Perry, are the company behind developing the new ferry. The electric crafts use hydrofoils - underwater wings that lift the vessel's hull out of the water as it moves, which the company claimed reduces drag and increases speed. "It's halfway between a plane and a boat," said Perry. "You get to a certain speed and it takes off and flies above the waves," he said. "It's going to be a real step change." Ms Collins said the new addition to the fleet was taken to help the company meet its decarbonisation targets and provide a faster service. "As an industry we need to decarbonise, and decarbonisation is something we can't do on our own... we have to do it in partnership," she added. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
