Electric Dreams
Hobart – 6 November 2023: EV Maritime, a marine technology business delivering the world’s first fully electric, 200 passenger, fast ferries to the city of Auckland, will today unveil its zero emissions vision for Australia’s inshore maritime sector at this week’s global ferry conference, Interferry, in Tasmania.
The presentation will focus on how EV Maritime’s experience in Auckland can serve as a zero emissions roadmap for Australia’s and the world’s inshore maritime sector – an opportunity to make a real difference to the emissions of harbour cities according to EV Maritime’s CEO, Michael Eaglen.
“Auckland’s 30 ferries produce more CO2 emissions than 700 diesel buses. The numbers would be similar for Australia. The emissions reductions that can be achieved by decarbonising our ferry fleets are significant,” said Mr Eaglen.
EV Maritime’s Mr Eaglen will speak at the opening day’s Electric Future session at the Interferry conference. In his speech, Eaglen will offer detailed insight into how electric ferries will deliver better, cleaner ferry services in Auckland and how this should serve as an example for other world cities.
In the race to decarbonise, electricity is gaining momentum as a frontrunner in the design of future vessels, both hybrid and fully electric. EV Maritime’s presentation is sure to be of interest to ferry operators, government officials, and other stakeholders who are interested in decarbonising the inshore maritime sector.
EV Maritime’s work in Auckland is already having a significant impact. The two fully electric fast ferries that EV Maritime is delivering to Auckland in 2024 are each expected to displace about 750,000 litres of diesel consumption annually, for about 2,000 tonnes of abated annual emissions. Auckland is on track to a fully decarbonized ferry fleet by 2035.
EV Maritime’s Mr Eaglen believes Australia has the potential to follow Auckland’s lead. He says cities such as Sydney and Brisbane are well-placed to transition to electric ferries, given their strong commitment to sustainability and world-class ferry infrastructure.
“If New Zealand can do it, it begs the question, what is Australia doing? Sydney’s iconic harbour would be so much more beautiful if it ditched dirty diesel ferries,” he said.
“In 9 years, the world will have its eyes on Brisbane as it hosts a climate-positive Olympic Games. There’s no room for diesel boats in Brisbane in 2032.”
Mr Eaglen said Australia has the capacity to build electric ferries 100% locally, right now.
“Australia has some of the best boat builders in the world. My company, EV Maritime, is not a shipyard; we don’t build the boats. Our job is to develop standardized vessel platforms and then we collaborate with local shipyards to help them become electric boat builders – that is how we can kickstart a home-made transition towards zero emissions ferries for Australia, and that is the message that I hope comes through at this week’s Interferry conference,” said Mr Eaglen.
Interferry is the global association of ferry operators, representing over 260 member companies in over 40 countries. The Interferry conference is the world’s premier event in the calendar of shipping conferences, attracting owners and top-level decision-makers from the ferry industry worldwide.
“A better ferry future is entirely doable for Australia and the world. We just need to get cracking – because it makes sense economically, passengers will get a better service and, most importantly, climate action is increasingly urgent,” said Mr Eaglen.
