FinFerries' hybrid electric-diesel ferry has been named the Electric & Hybrid Propulsion System of the Year during the Electric & Hybrid Marine World Expo 2018.

The 98 m-long and 15 m-wide Elektra, offering five lanes for up to 90 cars, entered the 1.6 km-long route between the Finnish Parainen and Nauvo in June 2017.

Although her capacity is 40% greater than the older vessel operating the route, she generates 60% fewer emissions. The ferry sources the energy primarily from the 1.6 MWh battery pack, supplied by the Canadian PBES, which is charged at each side of the crossing using a shore-based connection to the local grid.

Additional drive can be produced with the use of a diesel auxiliary power generation equipment, e.g. in the event of very icy conditions or when there's a power outage.

"This is yet more proof that our courage to invest in new, environmentally friendly technology was the right decision," Mikko Jukakoski, Technical Director, FinFerries, commented.

Grant Brown, Vice President Marketing, PBES, congratulated the company by saying, "We feel very proud to have had a hand in Elektra's win. Many of the unique characteristics of her performance are directly a result of the PBES technology onboard. CellCoolTM technology allows the battery to be recharged in 5 minutes and at end of life it is easily refurbished and upgraded using the PBES CellSwapTM system."

Photo: FinFerries/PBES