Brisbane based shipbuilder Aus Ships Group is to partner with Volvo Penta to build Australia’s first electric drive passenger ferry, which is already under construction and due to be commissioned by the end of the year.
Aus Ships Group and Volvo Penta, the maritime engines and power systems subsidiary of Swedish manufacturing giant Volvo Group, say the “landmark” electric ferry will be an 18-metre vessel capable of transporting 80 passengers.
The ferry will feature a twin installation of Volvo Penta’s IPS450E electric propulsion system, delivering 250 kilowatts (kW) per driveline and combining a 460 kilowatt-hour (kWh) onboard battery pack with solar panels.
As the ferry’s launch will essentially serve as a demonstration to provide better understanding of electric propulsion in marine environments, it will also incorporate a Volvo Penta D4 marine diesel engine to act as a range extender.
“This project represents a bold step towards low emissions transport in Australia,” said Philippa Wood, head of Volvo Penta Oceania.
“What we’re doing here goes beyond deploying new technology – it’s about validating a complete, integrated solution that delivers efficiency, reliability and confidence for operators. With our Electric IPS platform, we’re carrying decades of proven marine innovation into the electric era, combining performance with efficient, quieter propulsion.”
“In this installation, we’re using twin IPS450E electric drivelines, each delivering 250 kilowatts of power. The aim is to allow the vessel to operate using renewable energy sources with improved efficiency – while maintaining performance. For Volvo Penta, this is about more than a vessel. It’s about validating scalable electric marine propulsion solutions for Australia’s waterways.”
Aus Ships, which built two of Brisbane’s CityCats ferries, is being backed in building the new electric ferry by a $2 million grant from the Australia-Singapore Low Emissions Technologies (ASLET) initiative, which is funded by the Australian and Singaporean governments and is co-delivered by Australia’s national science agency, the CSIRO, and the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore.
“We see this as a defining moment for the Australian marine industry,” said Tommy Ericson, director of Aus Ships.
“By combining our shipbuilding experience with Volvo Penta’s advanced electric propulsion technology, we are not only delivering a first-of-its-kind vessel – we are also laying the groundwork for a new generation of sustainable electrically driven passenger ferries. This is about creating a scalable model that can be replicated across the region.”
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Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.