Electric Water Vehicles

Globally, the pH of the ocean is decreasing as humans burn coal, oil and gas. When carbon dioxide from these activities is absorbed by the ocean, it affects the ability of marine organisms to build and maintain their shells and may also change the behavior of some fish.

This IDTechEx premium article provides an update on electric leisure boating and electric ship markets in 2022. Drivers and data behind the recent surge in leisure boating sales are explained, with breakdowns by power class and commentary on future expectations. In the commercial and industrial (C&I) shipping sector, ferries have long been the low hanging fruit and remain the most common electric vessel type in-service, but regulations are driving change. Behemoth battery packs installed on a small number of giant sea-going vessels are expected to take over and dominate maritime battery demand within ten years.

Auckland harbour ferries are set to get quieter, cleaner and greener, thanks to two new fully-electric ferries for commuters and sightseers to travel on. Auckland Transport will operate the two electric fast ferries across all major inner and mid-harbour services, and the new ferries will provide a pathway for further ferry electrification in the future.

Current Direct is demonstrating a swappable battery solution for powering inland waterway vessels, with one or more lithium-ion batteries installed in a swappable container, or e-house. Project estimates indicate that the use of swappable batteries connected to an energy-as-a-service platform could reduce European water transport emissions by 482 000 metric tonnes of CO2 equivalents each year.

After selling more than 100 units in the US and Europe, Candela is now entering the French market thanks to an exclusive partnership with the leading recreational boat reseller Sud Plaisance. Candela C-8 will make its French debut with the aim to change boating for the better on the Côte d'Azur.

This IDTechEx premium article discusses how electric vehicle markets fared in 2021 compared with the past few years, drawing from the latest IDTechEx research. A snapshot of the following markets are given: electric cars, electric buses, electric light commercial vehicles (eLCVs), electric trucks, electric two-wheelers, electric boats and ships, and electric air taxis.

Just one week after Emirates Team New Zealand first christened their hydrogen powered foiling catamaran 'Chase Zero', the 10m prototype was up and foiling around the Waitematā harbour in Auckland.

Mahi Two, an uncrewed surface vessel, has become what is believed to be the first to cross the Atlantic Ocean using only solar power. The autonomous robotic boat left the coast of Spain in September 2021 and made landfall in Martinique, in the French Lesser Antilles, six months later, after more than 4,300 nautical miles at sea.

On vessels where moving to low-sulphur fuel has created a surplus of steam, the E-PowerPack will transform the excess into a free source of power. Going forward, the E-PowerPack will also be vital as energy recovery becomes key in transitioning to green methanol and ammonia.

Europe's ferry industry has set sail for an emissions-free future. It's leading the eco-friendly revolution with electric and hydrogen-powered boats that are destined to make urban transport more sustainable.