Tokyo Kisen and e5 Lab jointly develop the new concept design of electric propulsion harbor tugboat
Tokyo Kisen Co., Ltd. and e5 Lab Inc. have jointly developed the new concept design of “e5 Tug,” electric propulsion harbor tugboat powered by large-capacity battery and a hydrogen fuel cell, the company said in its release.
The e5 Tug is a harbor tug fully electrified and designed to minimize environmental footprint. The e5 Tug is equipped with a propulsion system running on “e5 powertrain platform”, devised and planned by e5 Lab, which utilizes a large-capacity battery system as a main power source and a hydrogen fuel cell and generator as the auxiliary power source.
This electric propulsion system will ensure sufficient bollard pull and continuous cruising time necessary for harbor tugboat which requires a large-capacity power to function. Furthermore, CO2 emission is minimized by incorporating fuel cell. This joint project is drawing upon knowledge and experience of Tokyo Kisen as a tugboat operator and e5 Lab is undertaking concept planning / development, design, and project management.
MAIN FEATURES OF E5 TUG
Environmental performance
It reduces CO2 emissions in all operational phases such as push / pull, transit and standby (it can also be reduced on the basis of Well-to-Propeller measure).
Contribution at the time of disasters
It has a function of power supply from ship to shore in the event of a disaster and can be used as an emergency power source.
Future scalability
Fully electrified powertrains can adopt the most suitable energy sources (lithium-ion battery, hydrogen fuel cell, all-solid-state battery, LNG generators, etc.) in accordance with technological progress. In the future, it will be possible to achieve zero emissions on Well-to-Propeller basis in combination with renewable energy.
ABOUT TOKYO KISEN CO. LTD
Tokyo Kisen Co. Ltd. is a major tugboat company in Japan with its mission of supporting maritime safety. Since the founding in 1947, the company has been consistently engaged in the operations of assisting navigational safety of ships throughout Tokyo Bay, the center of Japanese marine transportation, and one of the busiest sea traffic areas in the world. Tokyo Kisen is operating harbor tugs, escort tugs, pilot boats and CTVs for offshore wind farms. In addition, its group companies operate transfer boats, water busses, harbor cruise ships and car ferries. In 2013, the company launched a (non-battery type) hybrid tug.
ABOUT E5 LAB INC.
e5 Lab Inc. is a shipping solution provider based on the electrification and digitization of ships. Five values provided by e5 Lab: electrification, environment, efficiency, economics, evolution.