US vessel owner SWITCH Maritime has confirmed that its newest ferry has been launched and will soon begin conducting operational trials.
Measuring 70 feet (21.3 metres) long and with capacity for 75 passengers, Sea Change is a hydrogen fuel cell-powered, electric-drive ferry that will operate in the California Bay Area.
The vessel is equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell power package provided by Zero Emissions Industries (formerly Golden Gate Zero Emission Marine). This consists of Cummins fuel cells and Hexagon hydrogen storage tanks with a capacity of 246 kilograms.
The propulsion system is integrated with 100 kWh of power supplied by an XALT Energy lithium-ion battery and two 300kW electric propulsion motors provided by BAE Systems. The hydrogen fuel cell powertrain system affords the same operational flexibility as diesel with zero emissions and less maintenance.
