Discover the Innovative Ellen E-ferry

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Experience a vibrant night ferry journey with city lights over Istanbul's Bosphorus Bridge.
Credit: pexels.com, Experience a vibrant night ferry journey with city lights over Istanbul's Bosphorus Bridge.

The Ellen E-ferry is a game-changer in sustainable transportation. This innovative vessel can carry 350 passengers and 50 cars, making it a reliable mode of transportation for communities.

The Ellen E-ferry is designed to operate in harsh marine environments, with a length of 80 meters and a width of 16 meters, allowing it to navigate through rough waters.

The ferry is powered by a dual-fuel engine, capable of running on both liquefied natural gas (LNG) and diesel, providing flexibility in fuel options.

Technical Details

The Ellen is a 60-meter long e-ferry, which is a significant size for an electric vessel. It has a gross tonnage of 499 tons.

The Ellen is powered by four 600 kW electric motors, which provide the necessary propulsion for the ferry.

The ferry's propulsion system is connected to four 1,500 kWh batteries, which store the energy for the motors.

The Ellen can reach a top speed of 12 knots, making it a relatively fast e-ferry.

The ferry's range is approximately 60 nautical miles, which is more than enough for its intended routes.

The Ellen has a passenger capacity of 199 and a car capacity of 30 cars, making it a reliable transportation option for both people and vehicles.

E-Ferry Delivers Exceptional Results

Credit: youtube.com, E-Ferry Ellen - Lessons Learnt

The e-ferry Ellen has received a positive final review from the EU after nearly two years of successful operation. The EU's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program supported the project in 2015, and Ellen formally entered service in July 2019.

The ferry has delivered exceptional results, with significant immediate and potential long-term impacts. These include applying an extremely energy-efficient design concept and demonstrating that a fully-electric, emission-free, medium-sized ferry can operate successfully on longer distances than previously seen in the maritime industry.

Ellen's battery system uses high-energy G-NMC lithium-ion cells with unique safety features. The safety structure also includes a fire suppression system offering protection against all unexpected external hazards.

The ferry's battery pack is 4.3MWh, the largest for maritime use at the time of installation. This makes Ellen the first fully-electric ferry to have no emergency back-up generator on-board.

Here are some key statistics about the ferry:

  • Length: 60m
  • Width: 13m
  • Speed: 13-15.5 knots
  • Passenger capacity: 198 (summer), 147 (winter)
  • Vehicle capacity: 31 cars or 5 trucks

Ellen's exceptional results demonstrate that a fully-electric, emission-free ferry can be a viable solution for marine transport. According to Leclanché's project lead, Mika Lehmusto, Ellen provides a critical proof point of how far maritime electrification has progressed.

Layout

Credit: youtube.com, Meet Ellen, the world's largest E-ferry, connecting two Danish islands without emitting any CO2

Ellen is designed to minimize weight, which is a clever feature that likely helps with fuel efficiency.

Her passenger areas are conveniently located on the same level as the open car deck, making it easy for people to get on and off the ferry.

Ellen uses the ramps on shore instead of having ramps on the ferry itself, which is a space-saving design choice.

The hull of Ellen is made of steel, but the bridge is made of aluminum, a lighter and more durable material.

The ferry's deck furniture is made from recycled paper, a sustainable and eco-friendly option that also helps reduce weight.

Ellen's total weight comes out to 650 tonnes, which is likely a result of these weight-saving design features.

The ferry's batteries are a key part of its electric design, and they were developed by Leclanché of Switzerland.

Ellen's batteries are Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide, a type of battery that's known for its high energy density.

Credit: youtube.com, Danfoss powers up the world’s strongest electric ferry Ellen

The batteries are split between two battery rooms below deck, and they have a capacity of 4.3 MWh, making them one of the largest battery systems of their kind.

Ellen is one of the first electric vessels to have no emergency generator, which is a testament to the reliability of its battery system.

A charging arm on the shore ramp moves with the tide and allows battery recharging while loading, which is a convenient and efficient feature.

Charging time for Ellen's batteries is about 20 minutes, which is relatively quick compared to some other electric vehicles.

Louis Becker

Senior Writer

Louis Becker is a seasoned writer with a deep passion for maritime transportation. His insightful articles have shed light on the complexities and challenges of global shipping, offering readers a comprehensive understanding of the industry's dynamics. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to accuracy, Becker has established himself as a trusted voice in maritime journalism.

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