Check out Sparky: the world's first, pure electric, full-size tugboat!

Sparky is a massive, 100% electric tugboat and it's running rings around its diesel counterparts, being just as strong but much cleaner, quieter and cheaper to run - and we got to ride along in it and take a close-up look below decks.
It's a world first and it's happening right here in New Zealand, with Ports of Auckland taking delivery of this clean-running vessel just weeks ago. And as we found out when we rode along, this battery-powered behemoth is agile and strong, but also incredibly comfortable.
If you enjoyed this video, be sure to hit the Subscribe button because next week we're going on an electric road trip! (that's the only clue you're getting!).
Thinking of going electric for the savings, but don't know where to start? Now that petrol's permanently expensive, check out our EV Buyer's Guide to find an electric vehicle in your price range, with your desired range: buyersguide.ec...
And if you're keen on minimising your footprint on our planet's fragile ecosystem, why not switch to using 100% renewable electricity? With Ecotricity you can do that right now.
Plus, you might be surprised to see how much money you'll save, being New Zealand's only CarboNZero certified electricity provider with very competitive rates. Check out www.ecotricity.co.nz to join the future!

[@RadoTrenciansky]

What a machine Gavin. I trust every harbour will want one after running through the numbers. Loved your "Nahodny Okoloiduci" high vis jacket. 😀

[@PathosBedlam]

Classy and Entertaining as always. I'm glad they named it Sparky. My Dad was a sparky, and I'm sure he would approve, because if it wasn't for all the electricians, it wouldn't be going anywhere. Great Job Gavin. Keep up the great vids.

[@CaptainOddsocks-w9o]

We’ve got one coming our way by the end of the year! ☺️

[@Peaches_NZ]

Fantasic walk-through, 1.4mw of charging is crazy!!!

[@Zarphag]

Only until the proper MW charger things are installed I suspect then 3.5MW charging ? 4xCCS is a stopgap I hope.

[@mike77cos]

A lot of seaman for a small tug 😂😂😂😂

[@mirnivoznik8536]

CRACKED ME UP!!

[@olliknz]

What started as a suggestion for more diverse electric vehicle content has come true. BIG THANKS to Gavin for making it happen 😀

[@LANDSEAAIRCANADA]

Both SEASPAN and SAAN in Pacific Canada are also embracing this new Tech

[@evodessey]

Great video Gavin.I obviously need to watch more of your stuff.

[@c.b.8411]

Very interesting and well done! Besides a lesson on how tugboats work, the new electric technology is the future for all ports in the world.

[@zlozlozlo]

10:10 NÁHODNÝ OKOLOIDÚCI :D :D :D

[@GraemeFullerton]

Great video Gavin. Looked like good fun as well !

[@michaelhall8586]

That’s looks like such a dream job. I would love to spend all day tugging with men around the docks

[@stevensmith9895]

that's cool, not sure if battery electric is the way forward yet, but cool none the less.

[@thisiscorey]

Fantastic. Hope there is more of these in the world.

[@sydneyg007]

Very cool. Thanks for showing us!

[@continental_drift]

Great video Gavin. Informative and entertaining.

[@bnkwupt]

Great video, Gavin! What a neat vessel. Fun crew, too!

[@johnhornblow4347]

Such an awesome video...

[@Zarphag]

HMS Benson & Hedges 😂

[@peterhiggins9243]

Brilliant

[@theunknownunknowns5168]

I wonder what Ports of Auckland plan is for the rest of their fleet. 🤔

[@portofaucklandltd]

As the other tugs and vessels come to the end of their lifespans, we will continue to decarbonise our vessel fleet and replace our diesel with more sustainable and hopefully fully emissions free vessels, like Sparky. 😊

[@Zarphag]

@@portofaucklandltd Still looking at H2?

[@portofaucklandltd]

@@Zarphag We've pulled out of the H2 project but will continue to have the refueling site at the port. We continue to keep an eye on H2 developments in NZ.

[@nikwason]

who's the cable manufacturer? Looks a neat solution

[@v2gbob]

Very cool video, Gav!

[@krafter324]

Tugging is all about speed lol.

[@AntonyHart]

World first, that's cool. Great video Gav. Can we get a fact check on the organic power though? :-)

[@ColinChick]

That was awesome!

[@R00RAL]

How is this Tug going 1 year later please ?

[@Rich1Rodriguez]

Awesome. Charge on!

[@user-oe6bk1ou3c]

what will be the estimated cost of this electric tugboat???

[@zodiacfml]

nice! good job! highly interesting for me!

[@DoFrank]

Can you tell us how it ended up in nz, this first? Remarkable.

[@user-zg8bx9sw5j]

What a wonderful boat!!! I wonder how much is this. I'd like to know the price roughly

[@mclanetravel4271]

This is why NZ will be in the top 3 climate friendly countries by 2030.

[@caminho7340]

no deckhand. interesting

[@JoseCruz-kp7ru]

When in full operation we would be charging at least twice a day at 1.40 hours per charge. 🤔

[@rosanagarcia1730]

awesome!

[@r.l.mashburn4851]

Sparky. Lol ! Has big Ass fuel tanks and Two big ass Cats in it !!!😂😂😂😂

[@EcotricityNZ]

Fortunately those are only for emergencies or powering the fire water jet. For 100% of its daily use it doesn't need a single drop of dirty petrofuels. You gotta love that! -Gav

[@rattusfinkus]

Nice seamen joke

[@grant3226]

Keen eye, good call on the amount of semen in the tug, need to up their tugging power

[@GeorgeLittle-ft2yx]

2-3 hrs work time 24 hrs charge time

[@RichardButlerUK]

only 1 hour to charge? are they on a good time-of-use tariff? do they get a cheaper rate if they charger it slower overnight?

[@CarkeekW]

Such a huge quantity of power used on the port I would bet their rate is excellent

[@colinmead8996]

Soo goood ❤

[@NeuralNetNeil]

Great video Gavin. It's undeniable that electric propulsion is the future.

[@nzer922]

👍

[@jazztheteddybearterminator1706]

What do you do with the batteries after 10 years ????

[@EcotricityNZ]

The batteries on this vessel are expected to last up to 25 years, so to answer your question, not much!

[@licencetoswill]

the batteries degrade at less than 1% per year, so after 10 years they still have 90% capacity, why do you ask.

[@mantra1229]

"diseasel tug" too right 🤣🤣

[@FrankO-ek1ec]

2 1/2 hours lol

[@garylovesbeer]

Love a dad-joke fest!

[@fourfortyroadrunner6701]

AND EVERY WATT SECOND OF CHARGE is provided overwhelmingly by FOSSIL FUEL and all of the EFFICIENCY losses thus incurred.

[@oxaile4021]

"The electricity sector in New Zealand uses mainly renewable energy, such as hydropower, geothermal power and increasingly wind energy. As of 2021, the country generated 81.2% of its electricity from renewable sources." 🤡

[@licencetoswill]

no it's not. it's almost all renewables.

[@scottyb132]

Those diesel generators mentioned at 8:38 make this a plug in hybrid. Would be best to remove the references to "pure electric" and "100% electric" for accuracy.

[@mrgilbe1]

They're only there for emergency backup and aren't used in normal operation

[@portofaucklandltd]

The generators are only back up and they're required for safety purposes. They also power the fire fighting system which would be used if a container or cruise ship had a large fire. Just like a fire truck, but floating :)

[@scottyb132]

@@portofaucklandltd Thanks for the response. The presence of the generators (even if only for back up) make this a plug in hybrid, rather than a pure electric vessel. Of course nothing wrong with plug in hybrids. Sounds like a great technology for this application.

[@licencetoswill]

@@scottyb132 this is a pure electric vessel with backup auxillary charging. not a hybrid vessel.