Auckland’s first electric ferry will start crisscrossing the city’s harbour from 2023, plying the commuter route between downtown and Devonport.
Operator Fullers360 has just confirmed the commissioning of the two-level ferry which can carry 300 passengers and will be fitted with a hybrid engine designed by Hamilton Jet.
On the 15-minute or so cross-harbour run, the ferry will usually run on electricity, but the hybrid engine offers the capacity to serve longer routes when required.
Without using fossil fuels, Fullers360 estimates it will save 75,000kg of carbon emissions per year on the Devonport route at the same time as offering passengers a near-silent travelling experience without the vibrations and droning of traditional diesel engines.
Hamilton Jet’s propulsion system will allow the vessel to operate at high speeds with enhanced manoeuvrability.
Fullers360 says it has invested more than NZ$1 million (US$680,000) into the research and development of electric vessels to deliver state-of-the-art technology and a superior commuting experience.
Meanwhile, down in the capital city, Wellington, the nation’s first fully-electric passenger ferry – a smaller vessel with a capacity of 135 – is now making daily trips carrying passengers across the city’s harbour after completing sea trials. Its operator East by West has reportedly been surprised by the higher-than-expected speeds being achieved than were anticipated when it was in design.
The Fullers360 ferry was designed by the Australian-headquartered marine engineering company Incat Crowther. Construction will commence in April next year.
“There are countless harbour cities in the world that are like Auckland and through investing back into the local marine industry, Auckland will not only be one of the first cities in the world to have an electric hybrid ferry, but New Zealand has an opportunity to scale its marine technology credentials and contribute towards a more sustainable future,” said a Fullers360 spokesperson.
