Commercial operations have begun on the world’s first passenger ferry to be powered exclusively by lithium-ion batteries.
Norwegian ferry operator Norled introduced the Zero Cat 120 catamaran ferry which uses 1MW of battery power.
The system contains a Siemens BlueDrive Plus C energy management system and Corvus Energy’s 224 Corvus AT6500 modules, which give a total capacity of 1.46MW.
Around 1MW-worth of batteries are onboard in two banks, one at each end of the ferry, powering two 450kW electric motors to drive Rolls-Royce Azipull thrusters with CP propellers.
Two 260kW batteries are being used at each shore station to recharge the boat’s batteries during the 10 minute interval between crossings to avoid uneven drain on the local grid. The main charge will be overnight, using hydro-electrically generated electricity.
The ship’s on-board power needs are also met by the batteries, with a HVAV system that makes full use of waste heat recovery to minimise power required.
The 80m long, double-ended aluminium hulled ferry is designed to make the 5.7km crossing of the Sognefjord in 20 minutes. It will make 34 trips each day, carrying up to 360 passengers and 120 cars.
The ship, designed and built by Fjellstrand of Norway