The future of ferries?

sly_karma

sly_karma

Crew Member
Incat shipyard in Tasmania is working on an all-electric catamaran hull vehicle ferry, commissioned by a for-profit customer in Argentina. It is believed to be both the largest EV ever built, and the largest aluminum ship ever built.

Its service run is 35 nm across the estuary of the Rio Plata between Argentina and Uruguay. Water depth is as little as 8 ft, so the ferry drivetrain uses eight jet pumps, four fixed units for forward thrust, and four direct directable for steering. Charging stations at each berth will deliver a huge 40 mW of charging current so that the ship can top off batteries during the unload/reload cycle.

Despite carrying 250 tons of batteries, the ship will weigh 200 tons less a conventional power train with diesel engines, transmissions, fuel tanks and fuel load.

12 minute video includes a walk through the hull in the shipyard and a conversation with the owner of Incat.

 
40mw charging capacity is crazy. He was a bit light on charging details, but presumably they are recharging the battery at every 45min docking cycle. Imagine the kind of electrical grid needed to support this so you don't brownout the entire grid. The on-shore infrastructure that would be needed to make this possible is just as interesting - lets hope its not just a coal fired power plant sitting next to the terminal...
 
Max123 said:
40mw charging capacity is crazy. He was a bit light on charging details, but presumably they are recharging the battery at every 45min docking cycle. Imagine the kind of electrical grid needed to support this so you don't brownout the entire grid. The on-shore infrastructure that would be needed to make this possible is just as interesting - lets hope its not just a coal fired power plant sitting next to the terminal...
Click to expand...
Nuclear for sure
 
I'm intrigued that a private corporation is willing to go with such a bold application for BEV power. Would love to see their ROI modeling.

Still, it's an indication of where transport is going. As with trucking, short haul stuff like ferries is the first area to tackle, while transoceanic runs are a different equation altogether.

And Harbour Air are trialling an electric converted Beaver floatplane and working toward certification for commercial use next year. Interesting times.
 
A novel idea.
BUT
There would be issues around here.

Can't use that drive system, the number of fish sucked in and shredded, DFO might have to close down all fishing to make up the difference.
Using propellers, how much more weight?
Is there a frequency that would disturb the Orca's? Electric motor noise?
Big them larger for Georgia Strait runs? 5, 600 hundred cars? A little longer trips? Would not have to be catamaran hulls?

Maybe use some carbon fiber for some the interior? Stairs? Non structural walls? don't know why they don't use that now or maybe they do?

Maybe use some Musk's stainless steel, really light and durable, lighter and stronger than aluminum.

The power supply would be an issue though, the public would have to pay extra for household power creating a, IMO fairly large increase in rates. Already seeing that with all the electric cars. About EV's, you would think the price of gas would go down with almost 20% of the cars being EVs, that's a lot of fuel not needed.
Thermal power? We are pretty close to subterranean heat sources. Quite a few hot springs around.

Nuclear? That could be an option, look how many US navy ships are nuclear and don't seem to have many accidents although that does bring up waste disposal. And the US navy would not publicize any accidents.

I would worry about the power costs being passed on to the pubic more though.
 
Fishing? said:
A novel idea.
BUT
There would be issues around here.

Can't use that drive system, the number of fish sucked in and shredded, DFO might have to close down all fishing to make up the difference.
Using propellers, how much more weight?
Is there a frequency that would disturb the Orca's? Electric motor noise?
Big them larger for Georgia Strait runs? 5, 600 hundred cars? A little longer trips? Would not have to be catamaran hulls?

Maybe use some carbon fiber for some the interior? Stairs? Non structural walls? don't know why they don't use that now or maybe they do?

Maybe use some Musk's stainless steel, really light and durable, lighter and stronger than aluminum.

The power supply would be an issue though, the public would have to pay extra for household power creating a, IMO fairly large increase in rates. Already seeing that with all the electric cars. About EV's, you would think the price of gas would go down with almost 20% of the cars being EVs, that's a lot of fuel not needed.
Thermal power? We are pretty close to subterranean heat sources. Quite a few hot springs around.

Nuclear? That could be an option, look how many US navy ships are nuclear and don't seem to have many accidents although that does bring up waste disposal. And the US navy would not publicize any accidents.

I would worry about the power costs being passed on to the pubic more though.
Click to expand...
 
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