Uber Boat by Thames Clipper
The Uber Boat by Thames Clippers is set to launch the UK’s first fast hybrid passenger ferries in London in the autumn of 2022 and the spring of 2023.
The Uber Boat by Thames Clippers is set to launch the UK’s first fast hybrid passenger ferries in London in the autumn of 2022 and the spring of 2023.
The vessels, which are currently under construction at Wight Shipyard Co. On the Isle of Wight, they will operate solely on battery while traveling in the central London area between the Tower Pier and the Battersea Power Station and will switch to biofuels when they are out of central London. The excess power generated by the fuel-powered engines will be used to charge the vessels’ batteries.
“After the challenges of the last two years that Covid has placed on businesses, particularly in the field of transportation, I am very excited to increase our ability to meet the demands of our customers and partners,” said Sean Collins, co-founder and CEO of Uber Boat by Thames Clippers.
“This development in technology has enabled us to take the first big steps to meet our future environmental vision. For over 20 years we have been at the forefront of innovation in the river’s marine sector. We are committed to supporting sustainable growth, infrastructure and economic development on and around the river to confirm its importance. “As a business, we continue to embrace the evolving technological advances that will lead us to continue to develop our fleet and infrastructure, thus supporting a sustainable future in our industry.”
The new structures are part of Uber Boat by Thames Clippers’ strategy to achieve zero net emissions with all new structures by 2025 and its wide fleet, infrastructure and environmental footprint by 2040. The ferry operator is also working on three green marine feasibility projects funded by the UK Department of Transport ( DfT), whose results are expected to arrive in the spring of 2022 and should further help inform the business on its path to zero net.
“We are looking ahead with this hybrid design, which ensures easy conversion to green hydrogen or another renewable energy source – something we are also very focused on with the new projects we are carrying out thanks to DfT funding recently. This is the next step in our zero-zero strategy, and ultimately, zero piping “.