Norway getting an all-electric fjord ferry

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.

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?"

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.