Scandinavia’s first battery powered car ferry completes six months of winter operations in the Norwegian fjords
The KF Hisarøy electric cable ferry has now been sailing between Mjånes and Hisarøy in Norway daily for six months, with flawless operation over the wintery seas in Norway. The ferry’s new propulsion power system consists of a complete rechargeable battery system from Electrovaya Inc. (TSX:EFL) in cooperation with Solund Verft, HAFS Elektro & Rør AS and Electrovaya´s subsidiary Miljobil Grenland AS in Norway, EFL said Wednesday in its press release.
The 100 kWh new prototype battery system is based on Electrovaya’s new generation SuperPolymer®2.0 technology. Electrovaya’s SuperPolymer®2.0 battery system provides excellent performance and reliability with an exceptionally small on-board footprint. The battery system is an important step forward for the global maritime industry and a major step towards replacing diesel generators with a greener, toxic–free alternative form of energy. The owner of the vessel is Wergeland AS and Gulen Skyssbåtservice operates the ferry.
The battery electric ferry can save up to approximately 180,750 liters of fuel consumption over its expected lifetime. That has a potential to save about 500 tonnes of emissions; 480 tonnes of CO2, 9 tonnes of particulate matter and volatile organic compounds, 2 tonnes of carbon monoxide and 2 tonnes of other type of emissions. The Electrovaya lithium ion battery also eliminates all fuel exhaust including the usual carcinogens from diesel exhaust.
The Cable Ferry is operating approximately 10 round-trips per day between the mainland and the Hisarøy Island, a round trip distance of about 1.6 kilometers. The Cable Ferry is driven by two winches on-board and Electrovaya's on-board Lithium Ion battery system is recharged on the mainland between the round trips and over-night. KF Hisarøy is built to carry 49 passengers and 6 cars.
According to a study by Zero, “Mapping of the potential for battery operation of ferries in Norway,” 47 of a total of 125 ferry connections are relevant for battery operation now, with 34 relevant for battery operation in the future. The Norwegian maritime market is expected to be a key driver of battery electrification. By avoiding the use of fossil fuels and instead relying on Norway´s hydroelectric power production, there will be a significant reduction of CO2 and NOX emissions into the atmosphere. In addition there will be no noise from the diesel engines and no carcinogens from diesel exhaust. Recent studies by the World Health Organization outlined the large quantity of carcinogenic gases produced by diesel exhausts and elimination of diesel exhaust is of major interest worldwide.
About Electovaya Inc.
Electrovaya Inc. (TSX:EFL) designs, develops and manufactures proprietary Lithium Ion SuperPolymer® 2.0 batteries, battery systems, and battery-related products for the clean electric transportation, Utility Scale Energy Storage and smart grid power, consumer and healthcare markets.
About Solund Verft AS
Solund Verft AS is a privately owned shipyard in western Norway just north of Bergen, and builds and repairs ferries, fishing vessels, coastal freighters, well Boats, Barges, boats and various specialized vessels. It has very good local relationships with ship-owners, constructors and yards, and many subcontractors have local ties and address in the county. Its facilities include a dock with a "Syncrolift" ship lift system with a capacity 1000 tons for building and dry-docking boats on land. The Yard is capable of building and servicing boats of up to 75 metres in length at shore. The Yard has also recently built a ship hall for indoor work.