The 海角视频’s first environmentally-friendly electric passenger ferry is to be trialled in Plymouth this summer and could become the future of maritime travel.
A consortium consisting of the University of Plymouth, the University of Exeter, Teignbridge Propellers, MarRI-海角视频, EV Parts 海角视频, Plymouth Boat Trips and Voyager Marine is working on the groundbreaking project to create the 海角视频’s first, sea going, electric passenger vessel: e-Voyager.
The boat is set to launch in July, funded through the £1.4million Clean Maritime Call, a Maritime Research and Innovation 海角视频 (MarRI-海角视频) initiative supported by the Department for Transport (DfT). The project is intended to support the 海角视频’s goal of zero-emission shipping.
Voyager Marine will be the only 海角视频 boat builder to offer the complete package of design, installation and maintenance of sea going, electric vessels.
And Plymouth Boat Trips will trial the vessel, an existing boat called The Mermaid which will be revamped, on existing ferry routes, including the busy Cremyll Ferry commuter connection between Cornwall and Plymouth.
Plymouth Boat Trips’ project leader, Andy Hurley said: “We’re very excited to be leading such a progressive project, to create a cleaner and more sustainable future for the industry.’
Support from the universities was via Environmental Futures & Big Data Impact Lab, a £6.4million project to support small businesses, and the £4million Marine Business Technology Centre, both part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
Sarah Fear, project manager (Impact Lab) at the University of Plymouth, said: “This is a cutting-edge project and the perfect opportunity to show how the university’s scientific expertise and business support can be combined with the ingenuity of a local company.”
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Repurposed Nissan Leaf batteries will be used in e-Voyager, meaning almost no maintenance and clear commercial benefits for businesses in the marine sector.
The University of Plymouth’s scientists will carry out research during the build, measuring emissions including noise pollution, air pollution and fuel consumption.
Brian Lambert, a University of Exeter research fellow in the Marine Business Technology Centre Project, joined the consortium to shape the bid into MarRI-海角视频.
Mr Lambert will be working with EV Parts 海角视频 to integrate and optimise the new electric power train, to maximise the environmental benefits and efficiency of the motors.
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EV Parts will design the battery storage and motor installation. FBW (fly-by-wire) electronic controls will replace the existing systems and will be directly transferable to a wide range of vessels in the under 24m commercial vessel market.
The motors, energy storage, control and charging systems will also be tested in a real-world environment, enabling the team to gain approval from regulatory bodies so they can be used in vessels across the sector and, eventually, carry passengers.
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Brad Bunyard, managing director at EV Parts, said: “We’re breaking new ground with e-Voyager and beyond the prototype we look forward to being able to provide approved solutions to meet low emission targets in the marine sector.”
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Rigorous running trials will be carried out and Plymouth Boat Trips will be working closely with the University of Plymouth and Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) to develop regulations.
Dr Richard Pemberton, lecturer in Mechanical and Marine Engineering Design at the University of Plymouth. said: “From my first meeting with Plymouth Boat Trips, I was impressed with their approach to innovation.
“They are looking to take known technologies from the automotive and industrial sector and apply them in the marine environment.”
He added: “The university’s involvement comes on many fronts, be that academic support on a technical level to assisting with funding applications, and on a personal level, I’ve been linking the project to my teaching, so that the engineers we’re training for tomorrow, are aware of new technologies and where the sector is moving.”