By
Alice Chambers |
Netherlands-based public transport company Gemeentelijk vervoerbedrijf (GVB) is replacing the existing diesel-powered fleet on its North Sea Canal routes in Amsterdam with five new electric ferries.
The ferries, which will be equipped with power conversion technology supplied by ABB, will be ready by 2023 as part of GVB’s strategy to become emission-free.
The new GVB ferries can carry up to 400 passengers, 20 cars or 4 trucks across the North Sea Canal routes, operating on a 24-hour schedule.
Based on a plug-in hybrid design, they will run on electric power from their 680 kilowatt-hour batteries and switch to generator power if weather conditions are above wind force of eight.
“The fast-charging solution delivered by BAM and ABB is fully automated and can easily be integrated into the ferry’s timetable,” said Alain Asin, project manager at GVB. “Electric operation means there are no particulates or carbon dioxide emissions. When all five electric ferries are in service and the old diesel vessels are retired, we will save 800,000 litres of diesel per year, eliminating over 2,400 tonnes of carbon emissions.”
Between each 20-minute trip, ABB’s power conversion technology will charge the ferries within three minutes by converting the alternating current grid voltage to a stable direct current supply.
“ABB has a well-established track record in delivering stable and reliable shore to ship power for a wide range of vessels,” said Marcel Zevenbergen of ABB System Drives. “A key factor in this success is that we subject our supply modules to extensive in-house and external testing to ensure reliable operation over a long lifetime.”