http://www.digitaljournal.com/tech-and-science/technology/finland-s-oldest-ferry-goes-electric/article/491425
Finland's oldest ferry goes electric
By Tim Sandle Apr 28, 2017 in Technology
Oripaeae - The oldest operating ferry in Finland, hitherto powered by
diesel, is set to be relaunched as the Nordic country's first
all-electric ship.
The ferry in question is called the Fori and it first entered service in
1904 as a steam-powered boat. The craft cane to be fitted with diesel
engines in 1955. Since then there have been no upgrades to the sturdy
ship until 2017 and the coming of electricity. On April 29 the ferry
will be relaunched at Aura River in Turku, with electric engines. The
reason for the change is to lessen the environmental impact from diesel
emissions.
The Aura is a river in south-western Finland; the river makes its way
through picturesque towns before it discharges into the Archipelago Sea,
in the middle of the city of Turku. The towns may look pretty but the
waters of the 43 mile long Aura river are brown. The brown color comes
from agricultural runoff from nearby farms. Murky as the waters are, the
river is said to support salmon.
One common means for people who live in the towns to travel is by ferry.
This is why the reequipping of the Fori is not only of technological
interest, it means the continuation of a service that has allowed people
to go about their business for over one hundred years.
According to travel guide Lonely Planet: "Dating from 1904, this small,
orange passenger and bicycle ferry yo-yos across the river a few blocks
downstream of the last bridge."
The Fori will return to service, the BBC reports, replete with electric
motors and an electric drive-train system (designed by Finnish company
Visedo). The two engines consist of a DC/DC converter, designed to
increase the voltage from the batteries together with a permanent magnet
motor drive to transform the electrical signal into mechanical energy.
The electric power may save energy and lead to operational efficiency.
However, one thing it won't do is increase the speed of the journey.
Those taking the ferry will have learned not to rush; even the modified
ferry will have a top speed of just over 1 mile per hour (or 2
kilometers per hour).
