Washington State Ferries operates the biggest ferry fleet in the USA, and the fourth largest in the world. Its passenger and automobile services connect twenty terminals on Puget Sound and San Juan Islands. The fact the authorities include it in the state highway system bears testimony to the essential role it plays in local life. But it has been contributing significant diesel emissions until now.
Electrifying News About Washington State Ferries
The company announced in late November 2019 all Washington State ferries will be converting from diesel to hybrid batteries. According to Green Tech Media this will save money and slash direct air pollution. Moreover, the 25 million passengers on 22 boats will have the pleasure of gliding silently across the sea.
Washington State Ferries has known it has to do this for a while. That’s because it is the state’s largest diesel polluter on par with a mid-size airline per information officer Ian Sterling. However, he says the conversion is paying more than lip service to Gov. Jay Inslee. It will also reduce operating costs and pay back soon.
Unfortunately, This Cannot Happen Overnight
It will take time to fully electrify the fleet because the service covers a thousand square miles and must continue unabated. Moreover installing charging facilities at terminals and beefing up transmission lines will take time too.
Therefore each vessel will first exchange two of its four diesel generators and locomotive engines for Siemens battery systems. The work will start with the three Jumbo Mark II ferries that burn five million gallons of fuel annually between them. The emission saving will be similar to mothballing 10,000 gasoline automobiles.
The Washington State Ferries new-build project should see purpose-built electric-diesel hybrids entering service in around three years’ time.
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