Electrovaya Inc. has announced that the KF Hisarøy electric cable ferry has now been sailing between Mjånes and Hisarøy in Norway daily for six months, with flawless operation over the wintry seas.

The KF Hisarøy, which is built to carry 49 passengers and 6 cars, operates approximately 10 round trips per day between the mainland and Hisarøy Island, a distance of about 1.6 km.

The cable ferry is driven by two on-board winches, powered by Electrovaya’s lithium-ion battery system, which is recharged on the mainland between trips and overnight. The prototype 100 kWh battery system is based on Electrovaya’s SuperPolymer 2.0 technology. The ferry is expected to save up to 180,750 liters of fuel, and 480 tons of CO₂ emissions, over its lifetime.

Electrovaya expects the Norwegian maritime market to be a key driver of electrification. According to a recent study, 47 of Norway’s 125 ferry connections are relevant for battery operation now, with 34 relevant for battery operation in the future.  

“Electrovaya and its partners are well suited for additional maritime opportunities,” said Hans Wergeland, the owner of KF Hisarøy. “This market is expected to grow substantially over the coming years, as the demand for environmentally friendly, zero carbon footprint energy solutions increases. There is growing pressure from the International Maritime Organization and government agencies around the world to move away from fossil fuel propulsion.”

Source: Electrovaya