The BB Green electric commuter ferry by Green City Ferries has been awarded the “electric and hybrid propulsion system of the year” at the Electric & Hybrid Marine World Expo Conference 2017, in the Netherlands.
As the world’s first fully electric air supported vessel (ASV), the BB Green has been created with the assistance of several companies, including Volvo Penta, which supplied its propulsion pods.
The fourth annual Electric & Hybrid Marine Awards took place in Amsterdam where a judging panel made up of leading international marine journalists, industry experts and academics, honoured the world’s finest engineers and innovative products in the electric and hybrid marine arena.
The BB Green is used as a commuter ferry for up to 99 passengers on the inland waterways around Stockholm. Swedish-based Green City Ferries has a philosophy of producing fast, electronically-driven, quiet vessels with zero emissions to provide environmentally-friendly transport. The company is dedicated to preserving marine eco-systems and enhancing air quality for passengers.
“BB Green is not only the electric ferry of the year but also represents the future – and I think we should all be looking to see how we can make transportation better for the future,” says Hans Thornell, chief executive officer of Green City Ferries.
A world first for passenger ferries
The design of the 25-ton ASV, created by Effect Ships International, has a hull that sits on a cushion of air, provided by a fan, to reduce friction by 40 percent when compared to a conventional vessel. A dual inlet, single outlet centrifugal fan is located in the bow of the BB Green, and the pressurised air it produces enables the vessel to reach higher speeds and use 40 percent less fuel than traditional propulsion methods. It is the world’s fastest ASV – and the first electric vessel of its kind to be used as a passenger ferry – the BB Green has a top speed of 30 knots (56 kmh) and is capable of high-speed operations for 30 minutes.
A 200 kWh lithium titanate energy storage system in the prototype powers two electric motors. In the context of every day operation, the ambition is to use a 500 kW battery, providing a range of 26km; the vessel can be recharged in less than 20 minutes. The battery system has a multi-string and multi-pack configuration that allows for an increase or decrease in capacity, as required and provides full redundancy.
The performance of the BB Green is amplified by two propulsion pods by Volvo Penta.
Hans Thornell, chief executive officer of Green City Ferries concludes: ‘Our vessel is a forward-thinking option for commuting on city waterways as it is high speed and emission-free.’
The future of transport
‘We are encouraged by the recognition that the BB Green vessel has received,’ says Johan Wästeräng, head of Volvo Penta’s marine product management. ‘Our current focus is to validate the customer benefits that existing and future technologies provide, which is why we see the value in participating in projects like BB Green.’
He adds: ‘We see hybrid technology as a step forward in the marine industry, and we are continually looking at new ways in which we can provide new innovative solutions. To be part of a project that has won a sought-after international accolade, shows the investment we are making for the future of transport.’
