An electric passenger ferry could soon transform travel along B.C.乌鸦传媒檚 coast, with plans to launch service between downtown Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast by 2027.
On June 16, Victoria will get a first look at that future. The sleek, fully electric Artemis EF-12 Escape will be tested in the Inner Harbour, showcasing its high-speed, zero-emission potential.
Built by Belfast-based Artemis Technologies, the vessel uses a hydrofoil system, a submerged 乌鸦传媒渨ing乌鸦传媒� that lifts the ferry above the water while cruising, dramatically reducing drag and energy use.
While the EF-12 Escape seats just 12 passengers, Artemis has also developed a larger version, the EF-24 Passenger, which carries up to 150 people. That乌鸦传媒檚 the model Greenline Ferries hopes to launch by 2027.
Greenline, a Victoria-based company, says the capital is a logical first stop.
乌鸦传媒淰ictoria乌鸦传媒檚 a great first landing spot,乌鸦传媒� said Greenline founder and CEO Callum Campbell. 乌鸦传媒淭he vessel乌鸦传媒檚 coming up from Seattle, and obviously Victoria乌鸦传媒檚 a bit of a hub for ferries 乌鸦传媒� and for the province in general 乌鸦传媒� so we want to show it off and demonstrate with key stakeholders.乌鸦传媒�
While Greenline乌鸦传媒檚 initial focus is on connecting downtown Vancouver with Bowen Island and Gibsons, Campbell sees long-term potential around Greater Victoria, especially through the company乌鸦传媒檚 partnership with FRS Clipper, which is co-hosting the demonstration voyages.
While the company is based in Victoria, and a test run will cruise through the Inner Harbour, they don't have confirmed plans to expand into Victoria.
乌鸦传媒淭here are routes like Royal Bay and Esquimalt that have been talked about,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淭hey乌鸦传媒檙e not in our initial plans, but they show what乌鸦传媒檚 possible."
From June 16 to 23, the EF-12 Escape will offer by-invitation demo trips to highlight its performance.
Mark Collins, CEO of FRS Clipper 乌鸦传媒� which runs the popular Victoria Clipper 乌鸦传媒� believes the ferry could be a game-changer.
乌鸦传媒淭here is tremendous opportunity to introduce reliable, high-frequency passenger ferry service to B.C. coastal communities thanks to cost-effective technology like this,乌鸦传媒� he said.
The ferry reaches up to 36 knots 乌鸦传媒� nearly twice the speed of conventional ferries 乌鸦传媒� and will stop in Vancouver (June 20), Bowen Island (June 21), and Gibsons (June 22), before wrapping up with technical trials June 23乌鸦传媒�25.
The ferry乌鸦传媒檚 foiling design allows it to 乌鸦传媒渇ly乌鸦传媒� above the water, cutting power use by half compared to traditional ferries.
乌鸦传媒淭hat means, just like an electric car, you乌鸦传媒檝e got more range, can go faster, and use power far more efficiently,乌鸦传媒� Campbell said.
Campbell emphasized that the EF-12 is a testing platform, not a service vessel.
乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e using it to test key technologies 乌鸦传媒� specifically debris detection and collision avoidance systems.乌鸦传媒�
Though the EF-12 carries just 12 passengers, the EF-24 Passenger is designed for full-scale operations. Artemis Technologies, born of an America乌鸦传媒檚 Cup racing team, adapted its hydrofoil expertise for commercial vessels.
乌鸦传媒淭hey乌鸦传媒檝e really commercialized that racing technology into work boats and ferries,乌鸦传媒� Campbell said. 乌鸦传媒淓verything乌鸦传媒檚 developed and built in Belfast.乌鸦传媒�
Looking ahead to 2027, Greenline乌鸦传媒檚 next steps include finalizing a downtown Vancouver terminal, ordering vessels, and deploying 乌鸦传媒渃harge barges乌鸦传媒� 乌鸦传媒� floating platforms equipped with rapid electric charging.
乌鸦传媒淗aving a landing site in downtown Vancouver is obviously critical,乌鸦传媒� Campbell said. 乌鸦传媒淥rdering the boats, building the barges 乌鸦传媒� those processes take 12 to 18 months.乌鸦传媒�
Greenline is working with BC Hydro, the Town of Gibsons, and the Gibsons Landing Harbour Authority to refine the charge barge concept 乌鸦传媒� a combined dock and charging hub.
乌鸦传媒淵ou can build it off-site and float it into a community,乌鸦传媒� Campbell said. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 like an all-in-one charging station and landing space.乌鸦传媒�
The company is still studying the EF-24乌鸦传媒檚 performance metrics, including charging duration and range.
With two years to go before launch, Greenline sees this summer乌鸦传媒檚 demos as a major step toward modernizing marine transit in B.C.
乌鸦传媒淲e see opportunities for all-electric passenger ferries everywhere,乌鸦传媒� said Campbell. 乌鸦传媒淭here乌鸦传媒檚 so much potential across the province.乌鸦传媒�
