Electric Boats Are Arriving Sooner Than Expected

As the transportation industry strives to meet urgent decarbonization targets through greener energy alternatives, the maritime sector is following suit. With proven battery-electric technology already in use on land, a new generation of electric boats and ships is emerging. For travelers, this shift to electric vehicle (EV) technology is particularly exciting as the first global commuter ferries and tour boats go electric in cities like San Francisco, Stockholm, and Lisbon.

Elise Sturrup, a marine researcher at the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), states, “I see electrification being significant for shorter routes and smaller vessels.” She emphasizes that smaller harbor craft—such as ferries and tugs—operating in busy ports like New York City or Oslo, where charging access is continuous, are ideally suited for this technology. Moreover, she points out that electrifying ships decreases air pollution and its harmful health impacts on portside communities, particularly concerning in heavily trafficked areas like Barcelona and Rome.

Electric motors not only cut down pollutants in sensitive waterways but also eliminate the risk of oil spills. They also offer a smoother, fume-free, and nearly silent experience, enhancing comfort for guests and crew. This quiet operation is “extremely beneficial for sound-sensitive marine life such as whales,” according to Sturrup, especially in busy ports that serve both marine mammals and shipping traffic, like those in Alaska or New England.

However, electrifying larger, heavier mega-cruise ships and freight vessels that travel longer distances remains a challenge, primarily due to the limitations of current battery technology. “We won’t see transoceanic ships fully electrified anytime soon,” she warns, indicating that the high-energy-density battery options required are not yet available. Nonetheless, some forward-thinking cruise companies, such as Hurtigruten and Ponant, are exploring ways to integrate electric power in a hybrid format.

The market for electric vessels, driven by demand from commercial operators and recreational boaters alike, is expected to experience significant growth. One market research firm predicts that the value of the electric ship market will soar by nearly 400 percent over the next decade, reaching an estimated $31.48 billion by 2034.

“Electrification is crucial for the maritime transition, as well as for all transportation,” states Dr. Mark Jacobson, director of the Atmosphere/Energy Program at Stanford University and author of No Miracles Needed: How Today’s Technology Can Save Our Climate and Clean Our Air. “Moving forward, this will undoubtedly be the future mode of transportation,” he asserts. “Fossil fuels are becoming a thing of the past.”

Electric ferries and tour boats to keep an eye on

Ferries represent the ideal scenario for maritime electrification: they are smaller vessels, operate over shorter distances, and have the route regularity necessary for in-port charging. Europe currently leads the e-ferry sector, with recently launched or soon-to-launch electric ferries connecting cities from Belfast to Lisbon. However, Scandinavia—already a pioneer in electric vehicle adoption—stands out as the clear frontrunner.

Norway is particularly active in this area, boasting numerous fully electric ferries. Notable examples include the sleek 50-passenger “smart city” ferries in Fredrikstad from the newcomer Hyke; the decade-old MF Ampere, a 350-passenger ferry serving villages along the Sognefjord; and the world’s largest all-electric passenger and vehicle ferry, the 600-passenger Bastø Electric, which operates across Norway’s busiest ferry route, the Oslo fjord.

One standout is Swedish company Candela, which introduced its 30-passenger Candela P-12 electric hydrofoil commuter ferry in Stockholm last summer. The company has since secured contracts to launch high-speed ferries in New Zealand and Berlin. Marketed as the “world’s fastest electric ferries,” these vessels can achieve speeds of up to 35 mph.

Candela’s spokesperson Mikael Mahlberg notes the challenges of electrifying passenger vessels due to their high energy consumption at speed. However, he emphasizes that Candela’s groundbreaking electric hydrofoil technology enables the boats to “fly” above the water, minimizing drag. “We’re not merely substituting inefficient diesel vessels with electric ones,” he explains. “We’re fundamentally reinventing ships to make them significantly more sustainable.”

Outside of Europe, South America is witnessing a noteworthy e-ferry initiative: Australian manufacturer Incat Tasmania is building the world’s largest electric ferry, set to transport up to 2,100 passengers across the River Plate (Rio Plato) between Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Colonia, Uruguay, by next year. Meanwhile, e-ferry fleets are emerging in Thailand and India, and China made international headlines with its 2022 launch of the fully battery-powered Three Gorges 1, a 1,300-passenger sightseeing vessel on the Yangtze River.

Tourist ferries and sightseeing boats are increasingly making the switch to electric power right in our backyards. For example, Niagara Falls’ iconic Maid of the Mist replaced its two aging diesel-powered vessels with two 600-passenger electric boats in 2020. San Francisco is leading this transition, with its main Alcatraz Island ferries converting to electric in 2022; next year, the San Francisco Bay WETA plans to introduce five battery-powered passenger ferries, and Angel Island Ferry will also go electric. Washington State, which operates the largest ferry system in the nation, aims to convert its fleet to hybrid-electric by the end of the decade.

Hybrid-electric cruise ships

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), which represents over 95 percent of global cruise lines, reports that in the next five years, more than 15 percent of newly constructed cruise ships will feature hybrid energy systems, including either battery or hydrogen fuel cell technology. Currently, Norway is at the forefront of cruise line experimentation with hybrid-electric power, following its lead with ferries.

Hurtigruten, the Norway-based adventure travel company that includes the coastal cruise line Hurtigruten and the cruise expedition brand HX, is a pioneer in electric energy. In 2019, HX launched the world’s first battery-hybrid-powered ship, the 530-passenger MS Roald Amundsen, followed by its sister ship, MS Fridtjof Nansen, in 2020. Additionally, three of the nine vessels in Hurtigruten’s fleet, which carry between 274 and 500 passengers, have been upgraded with battery packs and more efficient engines, leading to a 25 percent reduction in CO2 emissions. Hurtigruten is also planning to introduce a futuristic zero-emissions ship by 2030, powered by a mix of battery packs, retractable sails, and solar panels.

Newcomer Havila Voyages from Norway boasts four 640-passenger ships that are equipped with the largest batteries on any passenger vessels at sea. Their itineraries focus on the Norwegian coastline, and the batteries allow these ships to operate emissions-free for up to four hours. Meanwhile, the upscale French line Ponant launched a hybrid-battery expedition vessel, the 245-passenger Le Commandant Charcot, in 2021, capable of sailing solely on battery power for up to eight hours. Ponant also plans to introduce a zero-emissions ship by 2030.

The Rise of Electric Boats and Ships

The shift toward electric power is not entirely voluntary: Urgent climate deadlines set by the United Nations mandate achieving net-zero carbon emissions globally by 2050—only 26 years away—or face the consequences of an unlivable climate. Traditionally, larger ships have depended on heavily polluting bunker fuel, with shipping and boating contributing to 2 percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions.

In line with this, the International Maritime Organization (the U.N. regulatory body for maritime transport) aims to reduce ships' carbon intensity by 40 percent by 2030—a target also embraced by the CLIA. Increasingly strict local regulations are intensifying the pressure: In Norway, ships that emit greenhouse gases will be prohibited from its environmentally sensitive World Heritage fjords starting in 2026, while ports like NYC are moving to require cruise ships to connect to shoreside power while docked.

At the same time, advancements in electric vehicle technology—particularly in battery performance, compactness, safety, charging times, and cost-effectiveness—appear well-equipped to meet these challenges. "It’s a mature technology that is more likely to attract government or investment funding," notes Sturrup. Funding and subsidies for electric propulsion initiatives in the maritime sector have indeed risen. In the United States, for example, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has recently introduced grants for electric ferry innovations, with funds already flowing into projects such as the electrification of a city ferry to Governors Island in NYC.

The Challenges of Electric Boats and Ships

Nevertheless, the technology has its environmental concerns. Primarily, the regional electric grids that charge the ships while docked must be powered by renewable energy sources like hydropower, solar, or wind to achieve the intended emissions reductions. Furthermore, the supply must be adequate "to ensure large ocean-going vessels can plug in without straining the local electricity demand," Sturrup emphasizes.

Another challenge is the availability of shore power charging infrastructure. While the CLIA indicates that nearly half of its member cruise ships (a total of 120) can switch off their engines and operate on electricity while docked, only 33 ports worldwide currently have the capability to support this.

For effective maritime decarbonization, Gerry Larsson-Fedde, COO of Hurtigruten, emphasizes that "available capacity and infrastructure are crucial." His fleet has successfully implemented shore-power connectivity across all ships, but he notes this poses a challenge for companies operating in multiple ports across different countries. (Hurtigruten mainly operates in Norway, where shore power connections are prevalent.)

There’s also the issue of upfront costs as a significant barrier to entry. "For larger vessels, it entails a substantial retrofit," explains Sturrup. "If the ship wasn’t originally designed for battery electric systems, it would require a dry dock visit for extensive modifications, which can be expensive for shipowners."

Concerns also exist regarding the environmental effects of battery manufacturing and disposal. However, Sturrup cites ICCT research showing that over the full life cycle of a battery, it remains cleaner than a traditional internal combustion engine.

Ultimately, Larsson-Fedde from Hurtigruten asserts that the maritime electric transition is essential for the industry. He believes converting to clean energy is "the only right thing to do, and we are confident this will become a 'license to operate' for future travel."