Project Overview:
A consortium of six partners (University of Exeter, Plymouth Boat Trips, EV Parts, Plymouth University, Teignbridge Propellers and Voyager Marine Ltd.) worked together to design and develop the UK’s first fully electric sea-going ferry. The project was funded through the MarRI-UK Clean Maritime Call.
The ferry, now renamed e-Voyager, was launched in the autumn of 2020 and is now undergoing rigorous testing before carrying passengers on Plymouth Boat Trips’ ferry routes from April 2021.
How did the MBTC Support this business?
Brian Lambert, Research Fellow from the University of Exeter, worked with the team at Plymouth Boat Trips to design and optimise the powertrain (i.e. the mechanism that transmits the drive from the engine of a vehicle to its axle.) for the newly electrified e-Voyager.
This project allowed Plymouth Boat Trips to access research and innovation expertise from the University of Exeter and the other partners, developing a truly innovative, first-of-its-kind product.
The e-Voyager now has the added benefit of a large solar array to assess the impact of this both environmentally and operationally.
Benefits
The ferry, now renamed e-Voyager, was launched in the autumn of 2020 and is now undergoing rigorous testing before carrying passengers on Plymouth Boat Trips’ ferry routes from April 2021.
The development and trials with e-Voyager have created a significant amount of interest in the project, whose aim is to develop a viable solution for the conversion and new build of passenger vessels and workboats in the important under 24m commercial sector.
The e-Voyager has already demonstrated that it offers a package which is operationally effective and financially viable for many operators within this sector.
The partners within the project group, including the University of Exeter, have all provided significant support and expertise to enable the project to be such a success.
Media links
- https://twitter.com/EVoyagerPlym
- https://twitter.com/CFCM_Exeter
- https://www.exeter.ac.uk/news/research/title_800341_en.html
- https://blogs.exeter.ac.uk/futurecleanmobility/consortium-bid-into-marri-uk-for-plymouth-boat-trips/
Testimonial
“The University of Exeter has supported the development and ongoing feasibility study with e-Voyager. This support has enabled us to learn how best to maximise the fully electric propulsion system through analysis of the data collected and through enhancements to the system throughout this period. This has included the recent addition of a large solar array. PBT and partners will continue to assess the environmental and operational challenges and advantages through further testing during this winter.
Plymouth Boat Trips are proud to have worked alongside the team at University of Exeter.”
(Andy Hurley, Project Manager at Plymouth Boat Trips)
