We have previously seen a pair of all-electric ferries that not only quietly but also in an environmentally friendly way take people, cars and goods from one port to another in northern Europe. The new ferry Ellen is reportedly the largest electric ferry in the world. The first commercial trip between two Danish islands took place recently.
The electric, battery-powered, replaces an existing diesel-powered ferry between the Danish islands of Ærø and Als. Ellen was officially commissioned this month. The eco-friendly ferry is 59.5 metres long and 12.8 metres wide with a draught of 2.5 metres.
Ellen's hull was manufactured in Poland after which the ferry was fitted with electric motors from Finland's Visedo. The 4.3-MWh lithium-ion battery comes from Swiss company Leclanché SA. Ellen's range is 22 nautical miles (35 km) while achieving a speed of 15.5 knots (28.5 km/h). In total, it can carry around 30 vehicles and 200 passengers and will make up to seven return trips daily.
Ellen delivers considerable environmental savings every year, releasing 2,000 tonnes less CO2, 42 tonnes less NOX, 2.5 tonnes less harmful particles and 1.4 tonnes less SO2 into the atmosphere.
