Electric Motors for Cruise and Ferry Boats

Will electric propulsion improve passenger experience?

As electric propulsion drives remove exhaust emissions and run significantly quieter than conventional combustion engines, passenger experience will improve greatly in both leisure and commercial applications.

Can the vessel be charged whilst loading/unloading passengers?

Any time the vessel is docked it can be easily plugged in to gain extra charge for the batteries. This can greatly improve the range giving total confidence to the operator if the service must be extended.

Has electric propulsion been used in passenger applications already?

There are many passenger applications that successfully use electric propulsion that has not returned to conventional drive due to the vast benefits it can bring. For a cruise or ferry operator, electric propulsion means, lower fuel and maintenance costs, futureproofing business and improving customer satisfaction.

What if my vessel does not have the space or weight allowance to have the necessary batteries onboard for the speed and power requirements?

It is possible to use a low emission genset as a range extender with the electric propulsion system. This would become a series hybrid setup where the genset charges the batteries when needed and the batteries power the motor. You can significantly increase the range of the vessel whilst maintaining low noise and emissions.