Ahoy, Hydrogen! First US Fuel-Cell Ferry Takes a Dip
Image Credit: SWITCH Maritime.
The good ol' US of A has finally dipped its toes into the hydrogen-powered maritime world with the Sea Change, a fuel-cell catamaran ferry that's raring to make a splash in the Bay Area.
Now, I've seen more electric vehicle concepts than a Tesla owner has seen charging stations, but this Sea Change piqued my curiosity. This ain't no flimsy dinghy; this 70-foot catamaran packs enough fuel cells to power a small village and can apparently scoot along at a cool 17 mph for 345 miles. That's nearly enough to get you from San Francisco to LA, with a few pit stops for fish tacos.
Image Credit: SWITCH Maritime.
But here's the beauty of this electric ferry - this thing runs on hydrogen. Yes, the same stuff that makes the Hindenburg a cautionary tale. Don't worry, though, they've tucked away a modest 551 lbs of hydrogen gas on the top deck. Let's just hope they've got a good fire extinguisher handy.
The numbers hiding under that good looking ferry are quite impressive. We've got two 300 kW electric motors, juiced up by a 360 kW PEM fuel cell system. That's enough power to make your hair stand on end, or at least give a seagull a good scare. And if that wasn't enough, they've thrown in a 100 kWh lithium-ion battery for good measure. Why do you need a battery when you've got a hydrogen fuel cell? To smooth things over, to have all the power you need when you want it, without any delays. Why have a life jacket on a boat, if you can swim? Things tend to go against best planning, when you’re out at sea.
Image Credit: SWITCH Maritime.
Look, I'm not one to pooh-pooh new technology, but I'm also not going to start singing "Kumbaya" just yet. This Sea Change is still in its pilot phase, and let's be honest, pilot projects have a habit of going down like a lead balloon. But, who knows? Maybe this hydrogen-powered ferry will revolutionize the maritime industry. Or maybe it'll just be another expensive science experiment.
The folks at SWITCH Maritime, the brains behind this nautical contraption, seem pretty optimistic. They've even got the US Coast Guard approval to operate the Sea Change as a public ferry. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. This is just the beginning. The Sea Change is set to start its six-month pilot program soon, and only time will tell if it's a game-changer or a damp squib.
In the meantime, I'll be keeping a close eye on the Sea Change, because this hydrogen-powered journey is just getting started. Anybody in the San Francisco Bay area willing to give the first hydrogen-powered ferry a try? Let me know how it went.
