New electric motors power up Barcelona ferry

The 15m Ecocat Tres catamaran now runs on Molabo’s ARIES i50 electric motors, which give the vessel a top speed of 12 knots.

With an operational speed of 5 knots, the vessel can run for 21 hours in a single charge, Molabo says.

The power and propulsion system, supplied by Azimut Marine, has twin electric inboard ARIES 50kW drives and 36 batteries with a total capacity of 216kWh. Integrated solar panels provide 40% of the ferry’s energy by 40%, Molabo claims.

Built by Metaltec Naval, the aluminium catamaran can carry 84 people and operates for 12 hours a day, running every 15 to 30 minutes for a 10-minute journey.

The Port of Barcelona is backing electric ferries under a Bus Nàutic service, which connects Drassanes and Llevant wharves in Barcelona.

“Our low-voltage propulsion solutions provide plenty of power for this large, heavy passenger vessel and are also easy and safe to maintain and repair,” said Adrian Patzak, COO at Molabo GmbH. “By eliminating the hassles of high-voltage electric drive systems, the Ecocat Tres has set a new benchmark for practical, economical and sustainable urban mobility.”

“The arrival of the new electric water taxi marks a meaningful step forward in our commitment to sustainability,” said Port of Barcelona president José Antonio Carbonell. “This 100% electric, zero-emission passenger ferry is helping us reshape mobility in the port and accelerate the decarboniSation of our operations.”