Wouldn't You Really Rather Have An Electric Ferry?

The article highlights the growing momentum toward electric ferries as a key component in decarbonizing urban mass transit, with a focus on New York City’s evolving ferry systems. While New York’s ferry networks—including the Staten Island Ferry, NYC Ferry, and Governors Island services—have made strides toward sustainability by adopting renewable diesel and hybrid-electric technologies, they have yet to fully transition to the electric ferries of the future. Notably, Governors Island recently introduced the Harbor Charger, New York State’s first hybrid electric ferry, featuring Siemens’ BlueDrive diesel-electric propulsion and energy storage systems. A standout innovation comes from Artemis Technologies, a Belfast-based maritime design firm pioneering a 100% electric hydrofoil ferry, the EF-24 Passenger vessel. Hydrofoils lift the ferry hull above water to reduce drag, enabling smoother, quieter, and more efficient travel. Artemis is actively engaging with New York City during Climate Week 2025 to explore route optimization and has initiated pilot studies in Europe to test the ferry