TIL: Norway is operating an electric car ferry

"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee) 02/24/2020 at 14:36 • Filed to: boatlopnik

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Named the MV Ampere, she’s been running since 2015 between two villages on opposite banks of a fjord. She’s powered by two 400kW thrusters, with 1000kWh of battery onboard. She’s a bit pokey with a 10kt cruise but the crossing is only 20 minutes with over 30 trips made per day. A combination of (hydropower) mains and stationary batteries on the shore are used to keep her topped off during her turnaround times.

It’s estimated that she saves about a million litres of diesel fuel annually, as well as offsetting almost 600 tons of CO² emissions compared to conventional ferries on the route.

It’s really cool that they’ve done this, and apparently it’s been enough of a success that 30 more have been ordered for other routes throughout the country.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/24/2020 at 14:49

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It must be an odd sensation not feeling and hearing the heavy drum of a big marine diesel.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 02/24/2020 at 14:51

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Living on an island, I’ve become so accustomed to it over the years that it’s almost comforting at this point. It would be unnerving not to hear it.

fintail > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/24/2020 at 14:53

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Norway is funny -makes bank with oil, hates using oil. Like a tee-totaling drug dealer or nightclub owner.

Notchback88 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/24/2020 at 14:56

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That’s pretty cool. Wonder if it’ll be something Alaska will adopt. Was just reading an article on WaPo about how the Marine Highway System is falling apart. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/steep-budget-cuts-left-alaska-with-only-one-operating-mainline-ferry-then-it-broke-down/2020/02/23/56f7107e-4f4c-11ea-bf44-f5043eb3918a_story.html

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/24/2020 at 14:57

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That’s pretty cool!

A silent boat of this size would definitely be creepy, but still cool.

Man there was a dude on the FP last week losing his mind about how BEV’s aren’t zero-emission. The concept for this guy of separating the manufacturing process from the actual vehicle was impossible. I was like: manufacturing process has emissions, the vehicle itself does not.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/24/2020 at 15:01

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The Danes have one 3x the size.

I imagine without the noise it would be quite peaceful like a sailboat listening to the waves.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 02/24/2020 at 15:02

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That dude argues that EVERY time an article mentions “zero emissions EVs”

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 02/24/2020 at 15:10

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It’s just unbelievable to me that he can’t accept the distinction.

I’m not saying they’re clean to build, but they’re sure as shit clean to operate.

ranwhenparked > fintail 02/24/2020 at 15:11

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I used to be friends with a guy who ran a nightclub in Philadelphia in the ‘70s (Caprice Lounge, IIRC), and while he lamented the switch from cocaine to quaaludes as drug of choice with his patrons (with coke, they could drink all night and still be awake and alert, with ludes, one beer and the police would bust them for overserving), but he was adamant he never touched any of the stuff as it would be bad for business for the guy handling the money to be high out of his mind.

Ash78, voting early and often > fintail 02/24/2020 at 15:13

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“Hey Norway, you want in on some of this?”

“No thanks, I don’t use.”

*Norway leaves*

“I know you say he’s cool, but I don’t trust him.”

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 02/24/2020 at 15:14

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Okay so I found the D anish one, and all the articles keep calling it the “largest electric ferry ever”, yet it’s smaller in every metric (tonnage, length, passen ger & vehicle capacity) than the Ampere. Something’s fucky here.

Aremmes > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/24/2020 at 15:19

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Very cool, but what I really want to know is why did they put the flag of Puerto Rico on the side of the bridge.

ranwhenparked > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/24/2020 at 15:25

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Theyre probably basing it on some arbitrary statistic, like when Ireland claimed the Ulysses was the world's largest car ferry because it could hold the most vehicles, even though its physically 8000-9000 gross tons smaller than Silja Symphony/Serenade/Europa.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > ranwhenparked 02/24/2020 at 15:29

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The Danish one (MV Ellen) claims the most range but you'd be hard pressed to construe that as being the "largest"

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/24/2020 at 15:36

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Oops I was under the impression it was much larger. Maybe they mean  ocean going?

kanadanmajava1 > Aremmes 02/24/2020 at 15:41

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I found this. Apparently the star is mildly in different angle.

“Norled operates most ferries in Norway. The Norled flag was created created independently from the Puerto Rican flag, and it’s merely a coincidence that they look the same. It’s actually caused some controversy in recent years, but Norled is unwilling to change its flag.

How to tell if you’re looking at the flag of Puerto Rico or Norled: Puerto Rico’s star points upwards, while Norled’s points towards the fly. ”

Aremmes > kanadanmajava1 02/24/2020 at 16:22

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Cool. Still, that’s not much of a difference, as there’s no requirement that the star in either the Cuban or Puerto Rican flag have any particular orientation. Instead, I notice that the fly point of the union doesn’t reach the middle of the flag like on the Cuban flag, while it does on the Puerto Rican flag.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/24/2020 at 16:30

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We just got hybrid-electric ones in BC.  They are also considering an electric “river bus” for Metro Vancouver

Cé hé sin > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/24/2020 at 18:24

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Not just Norway. I was on this one in Sweden a couple of years ago. It plugs in and as it crosses (by hauling its way along a chain) the power cable is wound and unwound from that big reel on the side.

ranwhenparked > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/24/2020 at 18:58

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I misinterpreted this as a ferry specially optimized to recharge  electric cars en route, which is also a good idea, though in a 3.5 mile/20 minute ride, you won’t get that much juice anyway.

Nauraushaun > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/24/2020 at 21:11

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I think they're making all ferries electric by like 2025. Which is good becuase I took a ferry through geiranger fjord last year and pollution was very present. Was sad

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/24/2020 at 21:44

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MF_Tycho_Brahe

they did convert this one, though they left 2 of the engines as emergency propulsion