Progress on hybrid-electric conversion of ferry Wenatchee

[@mwsoverdick]

Pretty stoked to see Wenatchee on the water again! Looking great.

[@chaddavis3626]

If they make ferries like they make videos, we are in for a treat!

[@AndrewNicholsSeattle]

The tiniest microphone!!!

[@shirley9240]

👏

[@bogdanivchenko3723]

I trust this guy

[@GenaTrius]

I hope they're making it so it's easy enough to swap out the batteries when the next big thing in battery tech comes along.

[@BlargleRagequit]

Why is the voltage conversion done on the ship instead of on the shore to save weight?

[@nathanmrg2]

how will they have enough charging time to keep up with their busy schedule of 10-15 trips a day? Not having one diesel electric motor to charge the batteries gives the vessel no redundancy or backup power.

[@Ryan-jt2sp]

You dididnt listen to the video, they will still have a diesel engine onboard. The video title literally says hybrid.

[@travelwithdubs]

It’s a hybrid, not a ev boat. Go watch a Prius video- same concept

[@nathanmrg2]

"that will convert power from the shore to the right voltage to charge the batteries"... This is an interesting project and my hope that it will bring down how much diesel is burned, reducing the overall cost ferry toll rates. I'm asking for specification on how they will handle the short charging windows of offloading and onboarding and what type of hybrid this is. Additionally losing power on the mainland is a common issue during the winter months. The system needs backup redundancy so it's not constantly being sent to unscheduled maintenance. My biggest safety concern for WSDOT retrofits is onboard fires from new and used large electric vehicles with this hybrid conversion of additional batteries on board. They burn hotter and longer thanks to 3000 lbs of volatile metal separated by less than millimeters of cathode to anode barriers.

[@roydonesdavidson836]

Lewis Joseph Martin Mary Hall Kevin

[@clynesnowtail1257]

Better buy a tugboat. I know the budget is pretty tight, Buy a used one that needs an engine, drop in the EMD that was pulled out of Wenatchee For good measure, install a couple fire pumps and water monitors

[@travelwithdubs]

The hybrid is probably going to be 7 times more reliable

[@tech-test-break-fix]

So take a 20 yr old ferry offline for 3 years to install a pet project. Enjoy the ferry wait times.

[@rsnell22]

What defines these battery powered boats as "hybrid"?

[@MillionDollarTrawler]

The electric motor can run from the diesel generators or from the batteries. Currently it always has to have the diesel running because it directly powers the motor.

[@nathanmrg2]

@@MillionDollarTrawlerhow will they have the time to charge the batteries? I assume they will have a diesel generator to power. I'm curious how much additional weight this whole project will have on the ferry.

[@jamesmadison9244]

So now you make even more failure points with battery, diesel-electric propulsion. More fire hazards and you get to replace out the very expensive batteries every five years or less. Win Win!

[@rsnell22]

Yeah, sure, replace gensets with battery charging from the grid. Voter apathy allows for one party rule in WA.

[@travelwithdubs]

Omg then there’s people who have 3 brain cells like yourself

[@floaty02]

Electric ferries equate to broken ferries and longer lines, less service and thus revenue for the ferry system. They’ll learn when they’re in the red.

[@clynesnowtail1257]

From what I understand this was forced by the legislature.

[@magneticB]

What a waste of money

[@gertrudebartlet505]

Why?

[@travelwithdubs]

Said your mom when you graduated

[@zacharysmith7872]

huge waste of money

[@pommard91]

WSDOT should be ashamed of themselves for how they have run the ferry system pathetic! DO A BETTER JOB!!!!!!!