Did you see that Washington State is ordering battery powered ships to replace their older ferry fleet?
Washington State Ferries reveals plan for younger, greener fleet
Washington State Ferries has come up with a plan to replace more than half of its fleet with new, electric-powered ferries. But the new plan faces hurdles from a cost standpoint and limited shipyard capacity.
The WSF road map envisions ending up with a fleet of 26 vessels by the year 2040, three more than the current fleet. All of the new ferries would have electric-hybrid propulsion as opposed to the diesel power now standard in the fleet.
Rodero says foreseeable hurdles include the need to modify terminals so new battery-powered ferries can plug in to recharge. Also, there are only one or two shipyards in Washington capable of building these boats, according to the planning document.