Electrification of the canal city
Water Taxis • Work Boats • Charging Network
Following the COVID setback, in June 2021 a full international e-regatta (31 boats from 17 nations), electric boat parade and Electric Village and international seminar has been scheduled.
Mayor Brugnaro announced his Municipality’s decision to invest €1.5 million into the conversion of the Venice fleet, 300K of which to encourage private boat owners to change their fossil fuel outboards for an electric equivalent.
With 131 million Euros from both the Veneto Region and Azienda Veneziana della Mobilità (AVM)/ACTV, as approved by the City Council, during the next few years, Venice’s fleet of vaporetti will be replaced or retro-fitted to diesel-electric serial hybrid propulsion.
According to in-depth researches, the Venice infrastructure is not suitable for pure electric propulsion. Therefore 35 varporetti will be converted to diesel-electric and 28 new ones will be purchased. To this will be added a further investment of 154 million euros.
According to Renato Boraso, Assessore for Mobility and Transport of Venice and Mestre, “In 2 or 3 years all the boats in the Grand Canal will be green.” To this will be added the construction of 116 floating pontoons (equipped with gangways) equipped with mooring systems for ferries, while on the land, electric buses and rental electric scooters will circulate in Lido and Pellestrina.
To this may be added a similar conversion for Bureau Veritas workboats. With this transition, the production of pollutants and the acoustic impact of the vehicles decrease considerably.
These contributions derive from specific national funds destined for the Regions in the two-year period 2018-2019 (DM n. 52/2018 and DM n. 397/2019) then attributed to the Municipality of Venice with a resolution of the Regional Council in March 2020.
While the Alilaguna transport company with Vizianallo shipyard of Venice have developed a 16m hydrogen fuel cell passenger ferry Hepic which is still waiting for approval by the Italian Navigation Authorites,
The Italian Government has also decided to invest €30 million into the provision of a fleet of electric boats from the source of the River Tiber to Rome, an application has been made to the EU’s Recovery Fund for some €xx millions for the electrification of some 41 ports and retrofitting of a whole fleet of boats.
Downloads
Download pdf of the Alternative Fuels Use Case
Italy, Venice • 2019 – 2028 • Electrification of the canal city
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
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 • 1980s – 2020 • Boats for residents and visitors
Canalboats • Narrowboats • Tourist Ferries
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