Unplug before sailing.

May 20, 2015 4:47 PM

World’s First Battery Powered Ferry
posted by adamvasco (14 comments total)

Seems to have sunk beneath a sea of 404's.
posted by Confess, Fletch at 4:55 PM on May 20, 2015

Adam, Mr. Howell is requesting to use the wireless-again.
posted by clavdivs at 4:56 PM on May 20, 2015

While the links are being connected, The SS Badger is back on-line.

"She is the last coal-fired passenger vessel operating on the Great Lakes."
posted by clavdivs at 5:00 PM on May 20, 2015

Here's a less cut-off URL.
posted by ckape at 5:13 PM on May 20, 2015

More like a fairy-powered battery, amirite?!?!
posted by blue_beetle at 5:24 PM on May 20, 2015

Mod note: Fixed link, carry on.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 5:26 PM on May 20, 2015

Did they mention it's back up engine. If this vessel is limited to 20 minute runs, i can see using a lighter frame. I'm impressed by its capacity.

Ok, I want to drive it.
posted by clavdivs at 5:38 PM on May 20, 2015

clavdius I can find nothing about a back up engine however I did find this: -
Should a power failure occur on either side it is possible for Ampere to recharge on one side only and maintain service without disruption.
You need to scroll down a bit.
posted by adamvasco at 5:55 PM on May 20, 2015

That's cool. Many of the Puget Sound ferries are electric as well. Only the electricity is generated by big diesel engines on board. The biggest ferries here burn 400 US gal/hour at top speed (they run slower to save fuel and money).

Interestingly, these ferries generate DC, convert it to AC for control purposes, then back to DC for the drive motors. The control systems are Siemens as well and there was recently a costly breakdown of the Siemens system: Seattle Times
posted by Mei's lost sandal at 6:16 PM on May 20, 2015

Agreed, the Link does state "Car Ferry".
posted by clavdivs at 6:37 PM on May 20, 2015

There's a much older electric car ferry outside of Portland, near Canby I think. But it's always tethered to the grid and has no battery so it doesn't count in this ludicrously narrow version of "first" I suppose.
posted by BrunoLatourFanclub at 7:34 PM on May 20, 2015

Ooh, they could put a wind turbine on top and make it the first wind powered boat....
posted by miyabo at 8:04 PM on May 20, 2015 [2 favorites]

Siri, dial Howard Hughes.

The electric ferry in Portland sounds cool. Though, if it's power required a tether, would it still be a boat?
posted by clavdivs at 8:53 PM on May 20, 2015

Ooh, they could put a wind turbine on top and make it the first wind powered boat....

I wanna see 'em do it with this technology.
posted by Confess, Fletch at 9:16 PM on May 20, 2015 [2 favorites]