An Electric Ferry Sets a New Record as Green Shipping Increases

0
791
Erik Christensen, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), via Wikimedia Commons

An electric ferry broke the record for the longest cruise on a single charge: 50 nautical miles.

An all-electric ferry built to showcase the potential of electric-powered ships has set a new world cruise record. The Ellen ferry has set the record for the longest cruise on a single battery charge, according to electric propulsion engine supplier Danfoss Editron.

The record set was “A perfect example of the future”

Ellen is an excellent example of the future for electric transportation. It’s cleaner, greener, and more efficient than its fossil fuel competitors. Electric shipping is a surefire way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Kimmo Rauma, vice president of Danfoss’s Editron division.

The ferry, which normally runs a 22-nautical-mile route across the southern islands of Denmark, made its special cruise to be exhibited at the 7th Annual Global Energy Efficiency Conference, sponsored by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Ellen may be making her way to the record books.

On her return from the conference, Ellen had covered 50 nautical miles (92 kilometers) on a single charge. The company is so proud of this achievement that it plans to submit it to the Guinness Book of Records.

The ferry was designed for long-distance cruising and was built as a prototype under an EU-sponsored program. With a 4.3 MWh battery pack, the company calls the ship the world’s most powerful e-ferry. The company estimates that there is a potential for 900 ferries in Europe that could be replaced by the same type of e-ferry as Ellen.