Boats for residents and visitors
Canalboats • Narrowboats • Tourist Ferries
1980s
In the early 1980s, following the setting up of the world’s first Electric Boat Association, a key player was Rupert Latham of the Steam and Electric Launch Company which built, sold and exported some 200 Frolic and Mystic dayboats.
A close second was Emrhys Barrell of the Thames Electric Launch Company who sold new boats and developed and installed electric and hybrid systems into existing boats. Their electric systems enabled two 29 foot cruisers to break records by covering more than 100 miles in 24 hours on one single battery charge.
Encouraged by a special rate licensing fee from the local navigation authority, during mid-1980s there was a boom in the popularity of Thameside electric dayboats, either in private ownership or as rental fleets. To this were added two electric river patrol boats for the then National Rivers Authority which were hybrid models, keeping their diesels but able to cruise range permitting on electric.
2021
The cruising, ferry and fishing company Plymouth Boat Trips (PBT), the boatbuilder Voyager Marine in partnership with the University of Plymouth, the University of Exeter, the manufacturer Teignbridge Propellers and the engineering technology company EV Parts have developed an electric ferry called the e-Voyager.
It uses repurposed, Nissan Leaf batteries and an advanced electric motor, which replaces the traditional diesel engine. The green ferry will undergo rigorous running trials, before carrying passengers on ferry routes from
Partners note the e-Voyager will be the first vessel to be recognised by both the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and a Classification Society.The partnership will now aim to convert larger passenger vessels.
Downloads
Download pdf of the Alternative Fuels Use Case
UK • 1980s – 2020 • Boats for residents and visitors
Download ‘Fueling the Future’ – the complete Alternative Fuels Use Case Portfolio
Use Cases
Amsterdam • 2013 – 2025 • Electrification of all canal traffic
Private Boats • Commercial Boats • Ferries
Denmark, Copenhagen • 2018 – 2020 • Five electric ferries
Commuter Ferries • Rapid Charging
Denmark / EU • 1995 – 2020 • World’s largest electric ferry
Battery Ferries • Charging Systems
EU, The Alps • 1995 – 2020 • Electric passenger boats
Solar Ferries • Electric Ferries • Electric Water Limos
France • 2009 – 2021 • Battery, hybrid and solar vessels
Commuter Ferries • Battery Ferries • Solar Ferries
India • 2018 – 2021 • Public Private Partnership
Commuter Ferries • Solar Ferries • Solar Workboats
Italy, Venice • 2019 – 2028 • Electrification of the canal city
Water Taxis • Work Boats • Charging Network
Norway • 2014 – 2026 • National ferry regulations
Ferries
Norway • 2019 – 2021 • Electric inboard & outboard motors
Workboats • Aquaculture • e-boat Rentals
Sweden • 2014 – 2030 • The evolution of alt fuel ferries
Hybrid Ferries • BioDiesel • Battery • Charging Station
UK, Orkney Islands • 2020 • Consortium of partners
Hydrogen • Renewable Power
USA, California • 1970 – 2021 • World’s best selling electric boat
Recreational Boats
USA, California • 2019 – 2021 • Battery and hydrogen ferries
Commuter Ferries • Hydrogen