MV Ampere

in Sognefjord, May 2019
History
Norway
NameMV Ampere (formerly ZeroCat)
OperatorNorled
Port of registryStavanger, Norway
RouteLavik - Oppedal
BuilderFjellstrand in Omastrand Hull build in Polish yard Aluship Technology
Yard number1696
Maiden voyageMay 2015
Identification
Statusin service
General characteristics
Class & typeElectric Roll-on/roll-off Passenger ferry
TonnageGross tonnage: 1598[1]
Length260 ft (79 m)[2]
Beam21 m (68 ft 11 in)
Installed power800 kW (1,073 bhp) battery
PropulsionAzipull thrusters with controllable pitch propellers
Speed10 knots (12 mph; 19 km/h)
Capacity360 passengers, 120 cars

MV Ampere is the world's first battery electric car ferry, operating between the villages of Lavik (in Høyanger Municipality) and Oppedal (in Gulen Municipality) in Vestland county, Norway. It is owned and operated by Norled, and crosses the Sognefjord, the longest and deepest fjord in Norway.[3][4]

History

MV Ampere is the world's first battery electric car ferry, developed and built in Norway. Its development was the result of a competition, launched by the country's Ministry of Transport and Communications in 2011, to develop an environmentally friendly ferry service between the two villages.[4]

It is reported that she avoids the use of 1,000,000 litres (220,000 imp gal; 260,000 US gal) of diesel annually and offsets 570 tonnes (560 long tons; 630 short tons) of carbon dioxide and 15 tonnes (15 long tons; 17 short tons) of nitrogen oxide emissions compared to a conventional ferry on the same route.[4]

Layout

MV Ampere has 260-foot (79 m) twin hulls constructed from aluminum to minimise weight. She is propelled by Rolls-Royce Azipull thrusters, powered by two 450-kilowatt (600 hp) electric motors with batteries. The 10 tonnes (9.8 long tons; 11 short tons) lithium-ion batteries were developed by Corvus Energy and integrated by Siemens with an overall output of 1,000 kilowatt-hours (3,600 MJ). They can be recharged in 10 minutes between crossings from high-capacity batteries at each port.[2]

Other energy saving features are LED lighting, solar panels, and air conditioning with a waste heat recovery system.[4]

Service

MV Ampere operates the 5.7-kilometre (3.5 mi) long, 20-minute crossing between Lavik and Oppedal.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Ampere". Marine Traffic. Retrieved 2019-09-17.
  2. ^ a b c Keith Barry (2013-02-01). "World's First Electric Car Ferry Recharges in 10 Minutes". Wired. Retrieved 2019-09-17.
  3. ^ Butler, Jeff (2019-01-27). "Norway leads an electric ferry revolution". Plugboats. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  4. ^ a b c d "Ampere Electric-Powered Ferry". Ship Technology. Retrieved 2019-09-17.
  • Media related to IMO 9683611 at Wikimedia Commons