A ferry using repurposed lithium-ion batteries from Nissan Leaf electric vehicles has been launched in Plymouth, UK.
Rigorous trials of e-Voyagers’ motors, energy storage, control and charging systems are run in a real-world environment in a bid to gain regulatory approval.
If the tests are successful Plymouth Boat Trips’ expects to be carrying passengers on ferry routes from April 2021.
Electric ferries are nothing new, but the UK project marks the first time second-life lithium-ion batteries have been used in this application.
The ferry was designed and developed in partnership with the University of Plymouth, the University of Exeter, Teignbridge Propellers, Maritime Research and Innovation UK (MarRI-UK) and EV Parts.
Plymouth City Council will install three 22kWh chargers, which should charge the ferry in under three hours.
The vessel will be charged overnight when berthing, providing enough power to run for a full day and complete its journey on a single charge. If required, the boat can plug in and recharge between runs as passengers embark.
The partners are looking at developing larger passenger vessels in Plymouth Boat Trips’ fleet of cruise boats and ferries, along with the new build of similar vessels.
