Australian shipbuilder Incat Tasmania has powered the world’s largest battery-electric ship – and the largest electric vehicle of any type in the world – successfully completing its first e-motor trial in Hobart.
Australian-based shipbuilder Incat Tasmania has achieved a world first with the largest battery-electric ferry built to date, completing its first trial of e-motor propulsion on the River Derwent.
The 130-metre ship, identified as Hull 096, was operating on 100% battery power on December 14 after Incat activated the largest battery-electric propulsion system ever installed on a ship.
From the ship energy storage system includes more than 250 tons of batteries capable of delivering more than 40 MWh of installed capacity – four times larger than any previous marine battery installation in the world.
Incat chairman Robert Clifford said the start-up of Hull 096 is a world first in battery-electric shipping.
“This is the first time that a ship of this size, anywhere in the world, has been trialled with 100% battery-electric propulsion,” he said, adding that the milestone marks a breakthrough for the global maritime industry.
“This ship will be the flagship of what is possible when industry, design and clean energy technology come together,” he said.
Hull 096, built for the South American ferry company Buquebus, was official launched at Incat’s shipyards in May and will now complete a series of tests before heading to South America in the coming months.
When put into service between Argentina and Uruguay, it will operate entirely on battery-electric power and carry up to 2,100 passengers and 225 vehicles across the River Plate. The batteries on Hull 096 are expected to keep the ship operational for 90 minutes and chargers will be installed at the ship’s berths in Argentina and Uruguay, with a full charge expected to take 40 minutes.
The Hull 096 milestone comes just days after Incat signed a contract to build a third 100% battery-electric high-speed ferry for Danish operator Molslinjen.
Incat written a contract earlier this year to design and build two battery-electric ferries for Molslinjen and earlier this month announced it would build a third electric ferry for the company.
Each of the three 129-metre ships will be 100% battery-powered, have a 45 MWh battery system and have a capacity for up to 1,483 passengers and 500 cars, while sailing at speeds in excess of 40 knots.
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