BC Ferries looking to make some vessels electric
Posted March 23, 2023 5:14 pm.
Last Updated March 23, 2023 5:21 pm.
As British Columbia continues to move away from fossil fuels and toward more electric transportation, BC Ferries says it wants to hop on board.
In a statement, the corporation says it is mainly operating on diesel fuel because its terminals lack the charging infrastructure needed to power its vessels’ batteries.
The corporation says it is requesting proposals for designs and drawings to add electrical charging at some terminals, and also looking into how much it would all cost.
Ferries says it wants to fully electrify its hybrid vessels that sail inter-island routes, and adds that this will allow the company to serve its customers in a more environmentally friendly manner.
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“The Nanaimo – Gabriola and Campbell River – Quadra routes are ideal for the electrification project as both are being served by two Island Class hybrid vessels capable of being converted to fully electric operation,” the statement reads.
“The overall objective of vessel electrification is to reduce the company’s emissions footprint in support of the Province’s 2030 GHG emissions reduction target for the transportation sector. Electrification is one of five areas of action identified in BC Ferries Clean Futures Plan,” it adds.
It adds that by 2030, the corporation is working at cutting back “the company’s 2008 greenhouse gas emissions by at least 27 per cent.”
“Electrification will allow the company to move its customers in a more environmentally positive manner, and aligns with community expectations in providing cleaner and quieter operations onboard, at terminals and around nearby communities.”
