Swedish Transport Administration’s new ferry Tellus will be Sweden’s largest hybrid-electric car ferry and will bring the government agency closer to achieving its target of becoming fossil-free by 2045
Danfoss Editron provided the electric power equipment for the 100-m ferry, which will be capable of transporting up to 297 passengers and 80 cars per journey on the 1.8-km Gullmarsleden route linking Uddevalla to Lysekil.
The Tellus ferry, which will mainly operate on fully electric mode, was built by Baltic Workboats, with Danfoss Editron delivering the electric powerplant and propulsion system. The lightweight electric powerplant is connected to the 12 battery racks provided by Corvus batteries, which have a total capacity of 949 kWh.
The batteries are currently charged at night via an onshore charging station and can also be charged by diesel engines while the ferry is operating. This temporary solution will be replaced by automatic charging stations at the harbour once the infrastructure is ready.
In addition to controlling the ferry’s propulsion, the Editron load control system automatically supervises the powerplant and ensures that fuel consumption is optimised at all times, even when the ferry is not operating on fully-electric mode only. When in hybrid-electric mode, the ferry will operate on a single genset, with the rest of the propulsion supported by battery power. The Editron control system’s separation operation mode ensures the ferry’s captain can easily choose the most appropriate operation mode and swiftly switch between them if necessary.
Swedish Transport Administration environmental co-ordinator Peter Peterberg said “We are delighted to add the Tellus ferry to our fleet, which demonstrates that emissions-free solutions are as efficient as their diesel counterparts. Our plan is to continue to upgrade our vessels with hybrid-electric systems in order to operate the most sustainable fleet possible.”
Danfoss Editron project manager Jani Hartikka said “Similar ferries are already in operation in Finland and Norway, so we are thrilled to see Sweden joining the movement. The electrification of the marine industry is a trend which will continue to grow as more countries introduce legislation related to reducing emissions in the sector. The versatility of our Editron system means we can provide fully electric and hybrid solutions for any kind of ferry. The future of the marine sector is definitely emissions-free.”
Baltic Workboats electrical engineer Marek Müürisepp said “The Tellus ferry is a technical feat and we are looking forward to seeing more ferries of its kind enter operation on Swedish waters. We are aiming to scale-up electrification in the marine industry and we are glad to have found a reliable partner in Danfoss Editron that shares the same vision.”
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