Seven-minute recharge for new all-electric Niagara Falls tour ferries

A pair of vessels installed with all-electric propulsion from ABB have been approved to enter service at Niagara Falls.

The zero-emission ferries named the James V. Glynn and the Nikola Tesla are said to be the first all-electric vessels built in the US, with power drawn from a high-capacity battery pack supplied and integrated by ABB. In addition to batteries, ABB has supplied an integrated power and propulsion solution for the newbuild vessels, including an offshore charging system, enabling sustainable operation.

“Maid of the Mist has always evolved with the technology, and we are thrilled to open a new page in our company’s history, moving our fleet to zero-emission operation,” says Christopher Glynn, president of Maid of the Mist Corp. “Close collaboration with ABB has been instrumental in making this project a success, and we are proud of what we were able to accomplish together.”

“The vessels confirm growing acceptance of all-electric vessel propulsion,” says Juha Koskela, ABB Marine & Ports Division president. “We applaud Maid of the Mist’s decision to move to zero-emission operation and are honoured to have worked with this forward-thinking company on implementing the electric power and propulsion solution.”

Each boat is powered by a pair of battery packs providing 316 kWh total capacity divided across two catamaran hulls. The batteries allow the electric propulsion motors to reach an output of up to 400 kW and are charged using locally produced hydroelectricity in a process that takes just seven minutes during disembarkation and boarding.