“We don’t want surges in the system and have all the lights in Seattle dim when a boat plugs in.” Still, the boat’s batteries will need an uninterrupted flow of electricity for 20-25 minutes to recharge the boat.
With that concept in mind, current plans envision a robotic charging arm coming from the vessel to a shoreside power connection.Įven so, getting enough electricity to the 16 charging terminals is a “real challenge because some of these utility companies don’t have the infrastructure yet to help us achieve these goals,” said Sowers. Nicole McIntosh, a WSF terminal engineer for 25 years, suggested put- ting more of the electrical interface infrastructure on the boats to avoid permitting problems for over-water electrical infrastructure shoreside. “Currently there are not enough megawatts to charge up a boat,” said Sowers, “we need to work with the electric utilities to bring more power to the terminals.” WSF plans to provide electric charging at 16 of its 19 terminals, some of which are in the middle of urban areas and some of which are on remote is- lands. David Sowers, WSF’s director for terminal engineer- ing, said in a video interview that “the connection between the vessel and the terminal is really key to making the whole thing work.” According to the RFI, the propulsion will be “hybrid battery-diesel electric with an automated charging system.” In addition, the “primary source of energy will be shore-based electricity to charge the onboard batteries, with diesel genera- tors providing additional and/or backup energy.”In other words, the new boats must have plug-in battery replenishment, which means establishing shoreside rapid charging systems capable of “full battery charging during a 20-minute dwell time at each terminal.”Īgain, a tall order. The new hybrid-electric Olympic- class boats will have a capacity of 144 cars and 1,500 passengers. In Canada, BC Ferries now has six Island-class battery- hybrid-electric car ferries, and to the west, across Puget Sound, Kitsap Transit has one hybrid-electric passenger boat and is preparing to build an all-electric sister vessel. Or, at least, hybrid-electrification for starters.įor ferries, going electric is a trend all over the world, led by Scandanavia, so WSF will have a lot of company, includ- ing two other Pacific Northwest operators. Not long ago, WSF had been contemplating a transition to natural gas-powered ferries as a cleaner and less expensive alternative to diesel, but the executive order put an end to that. For a fleet of 21 car ferries that burn 19 million gals. It’s called Executive Order 20-01 - “State Efficiency and Environmental Performance.” In it, he “hereby orders” that, among other things, “The Secretary of the Department of Transportation shall ensure that the Washington State Ferry (WSF) system begins the transition to a zero-carbon-emission ferry fleet, including the accelerated adoption of both ferry electrification and operational improvements that will conserve energy and cut fuel use.” The target date is 2050. Jay Inslee laid down the law: The burning of fossil fuels to power the state’s vessels, vehicles and facilities must be significantly reduced or eliminated.
0 kommentar(er)
