The future of public transport on the water is moving towards electric mobility. In Stockholm, on the East Frisian island of Norderney and in Barcelona, innovative electric ferries are revolutionising passenger transport. They combine environmental friendliness with efficiency and set new standards for urban mobility. The advantages of this technology range from drastically reduced CO2 emissions and lower operating costs to increased passenger appeal. A closer look at the three projects shows how electric ferries are changing local transport on the water in the long term.
Stockholm's flying e-ferry delights commuters
The world's first electric hydrofoil ferry Candela P-12 Nova has started regular service in Stockholm. The innovative ship combines electric propulsion with hydrofoil technology, allowing it to literally glide over the surface of the water. After a short winter break, the Nova will be back in service from 15 April. She proved to be on their first journeys at the end of 2024 The Nova has proved to be a complete success - both for passengers and for the environment. The statistics from the Stockholm region speak for themselves: compared to conventional diesel ferries on the same route, the Nova emits 95 per cent less CO2 and consumes 84 per cent less energy per passenger kilometre.
At the same time, the ship is very popular with passengers. Most departures are fully booked and there are often long queues. One of the main reasons for its attractiveness is the significantly shorter journey time: the Nova covers the distance between Tappström (Ekerö centre) and Stockholm City Hall in just 30 minutes - half as long as by car or bus. Other boats on the route take 45 to 55 minutes.
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E-catamaran connects mainland and Norderney
Electric mobility on the water is also making inroads on the German North Sea coast. The first electric catamaran under the German flag has been operating regularly between Norddeich and the island of Norderney since 4 April. The Frisia shipping company has been testing the ship with trial runs since the beginning of February and promises an environmentally friendly, fast and safe connection.
Captain Stephan Ulrichs praises the driving characteristics of the e-catamaran, which he compares to those of an electric car. The ship reacts immediately to accelerating, similar to an electric sports car. This agility enables the captain to react quickly in narrow channels. The electric catamaran transports up to 150 passengers to the East Frisian island in just 30 minutes - halving the journey time compared to the large passenger ferries.
Barcelona focuses on emission-free port mobility
The port of Barcelona's latest all-electric commuter ferry, the Ecocat Tres, has entered service. The 15-metre-long aluminium catamaran is part of the environmentally friendly Bus Nàutic boat service, which connects the ports of Drassanes and Llevant. In the first three months of operation, the service has already completed more than 125,000 clean, quiet and sustainable journeys.
The Ecocat Tres offers space for 84 passengers and has an additional roof deck with more seats. The ship operates for at least twelve hours a day, travelling between the two landing stages every 15 to 30 minutes. Each crossing takes around ten minutes. At an operating speed of five knots, the ferry can travel for up to 21 hours on a single battery charge.
Technological innovations as the key to success
These three examples show how technological innovations are revolutionising ferry operations. In Stockholm, the Candela P-12 Nova utilises hydrofoil technology, which enables the ship to glide across the water at high speeds. With a cruising speed of 25 knots, it is the fastest electric ship in the world and even outperforms Stockholm's fastest diesel-powered Schärgarden ferries.
The electric catamaran for Norderney draws its electricity from solar cells installed on the roofs of the carports in Norddeich harbour. This energy is not only used to charge the ship, but also for electric cars and the Frisia shipping company's buildings. Surplus electricity is fed into the grid.
n Barcelona, the Ecocat Tres relies on a propulsion and energy system supplied by Azimut Marine. It comprises two electric ARIES 50 kW inboard drives, 36 batteries with a total capacity of 216 kWh, fast chargers and integrated solar cells, which cover up to 40 per cent of the catamaran's total energy consumption.
Positive effects on the environment and urban development
The introduction of electric ferries has far-reaching positive effects on the environment and urban development. In Stockholm, the data shows that the Nova not only attracts existing passengers, but also gains new users for water transport. The number of passengers travelling on line 89 has increased by 30 percent. Gustav Hasselskog, CEO and founder of Candela, sees this as an important step: "One of our goals is to show that we can use fast, convenient water transport to encourage car commuters to switch to public transport on the water."
In Barcelona, the Ecocat Tres is expected to save 90 tonnes of CO2 per year, making an important contribution to the city's environmental goals. José Antonio Carbonell, President of the Port of Barcelona, emphasises: "The introduction of the new electric water taxi represents a significant step in our commitment to sustainability. This 100% electric, zero-emission passenger ferry will help us to reshape mobility in the port and accelerate the decarbonisation of our operations."
As technology continues to develop and demand for sustainable transport solutions increases, electric ferries are likely to play an increasingly important role in urban mobility in the future.
Lars Bolle
Chief Editor Digital
