A company in the Netherlands called EST-Floattech is providing the batteries for a brand-new electric workboat being built in the UK. This project is a big deal because it’s the first commercial electric workboat and charging station ever built in the UK!
The boat called an electric-landing utility vessel (E-LUV), will be used to transport cargo and people between islands in Scotland. To give this electric ferry enough power, EST-Floattech is supplying a special battery system called the Octopus High Energy. They’ll actually be providing two sets of these batteries, with a total capacity of 3,600 kWh. That’s enough to run the boat’s engines and other equipment.
The E-LUV will be used for short trips twice a day, five days a week. To make sure it can always stay charged, EST-Floattech is also providing a separate battery system that can be used as a charger or even an extra battery pack for longer trips. This separate battery system is housed in a special 20-foot container.
People working on the project say they’re excited about EST-Floattech’s battery system because it’s very safe, especially for use in the ocean environment. According to Luke Parnell, a big cheese at the company building the boat, EST-Floattech’s system is a major leap forward in safety.
This project is a big win for electric boats in the UK! It will be interesting to see how this electric ferry performs and whether it paves the way for more electric boats in the future.