Norway will soon launch a new ferry that will be the world’s first all-electric commercial vessel, running entirely on battery power. It will enter service next April, and will be christened ‘Future of the Fjords.’
Its near twin, Vision of the Fjords is already in operation by The Fjords ferry company, but is a diesel-electric hybrid that also has a conventional engine, while Future will not. Both ships are carbon-fiber-bodied hybrids that can carry 400 passengers at speeds up to 16 knots. The company serves routes to towns and villages along Norway’s scenic inland coast.
The initiative is part of Norway’s commitment, under the Paris accords, to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its fleet by half by 2050, and zero by 2100. Although the country is a major oil producer, it’s also the world’s leader in percentage of electrics among new cars sold.
Norway’s in an odd spot on that: It’s one of the world’s leading oil suppliers. It’s also the case, sometimes, that it’s worth moving and concentrating the ‘dirtier’ parts to keep things clean where the people are. Everything’s a balancing act… Like the hydrogen-cell cars I was happily awaiting here in New York, until my wife asked “Do you know where the hydrogen is coming from? How are they producing it?”
It’s a good idea in a country that derives almost 100% of it’s electricity from clean renewable hydroelectricity, like Norway. Seems to make much less sense in a country that burns fossil fuels to generate electricity — might as well just use a standard engine in that case.
The modern world still needs oil so I’m glad Norway is able to help add to a world supply that makes us all less reliant on the volatile middle east. But they do have abundant hydroelectricity, as does Canada, and it’s places like this that I see as good testing grounds for battery powered experiments like this ferry because charging the batteries here doesn’t add much pollution. Hydroelectric dams may be somewhat controversial (what isn’t?), but once they’re built they generate lots of absolutely clean and renewable energy.
Regarding hydrogen, as I recall that was what caused the Hindenberg to go down near your home almost a century ago. Volatile stuff.