ZeroMar and EPTechnologies expand electrification partnership in California
ZeroMar, a Bay Area firm specialising in marine electrification, and EPTechnologies, a developer in marine electric propulsion and safety systems, have announced an expansion of their partnership, following two years of collaboration.
This partnership combines ZeroMar’s expertise in marine electrification with EPTechnologies’ advancements in electric propulsion to address pollution issues in California’s waters. As part of this development, EPTechnologies becomes one of the largest suppliers of electric propulsion systems in the US.
The partnership will focus on the retrofitting and developing electric ferries and other zero-emission vessels to meet California’s Commercial Harborcraft regulations under the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The first project involves the Angel Island Tiburon Ferry.
The firms say this collaboration aims to address the maritime industry’s environmental and operational challenges with technology that promotes sustainable and efficient marine solutions.
Graham Balch, CEO and Founder of ZeroMar, underscores the significance of the CARB’s Advanced Technology Demonstration Projects Program (ATDPP) funding in this partnership: “ZeroMar is proud to champion marine electrification in California, supporting owners and operators in complying with Zero-Emission Advanced Technology (ZEAT) requirements in the Commercial Harborcraft regulations from CARB that require short-run ferries to be zero-emission by 31 December 2025,” he says.
Marco Ottiker, COO and co-owner of EPTechnologies, adds: “We are excited to collaborate with ZeroMar to advance sustainable transportation in California’s marine industry. By combining our expertise in electric propulsion with ZeroMar’s extensive knowledge about the US market, we will deliver high-quality, eco-friendly options that are economically viable. Electric propulsion systems enable ferry operators to reduce operational costs through lower fuel and maintenance expenses while decreasing carbon emissions.”
The collaboration focuses on equipping short-run ferries with EPTechnologies’ zero-emission electric propulsion systems, which feature advanced battery systems and durable safety designs. Future initiatives are expected to include additional vessel types, such as fishing boats, excursion vessels, tugboats and research vessels, reducing dependence on fossil fuels in the maritime industry.
