When ELLEN, after considerable delays, was delivered from the local Søby Værft and entered service on the Søby-Fynshav route in 2019, it became the electric ferry in the world with the longest range between charges. However, Ærøfærgerne’s status as first movers has also had its costs, as ELLEN has since experienced extended periods out of service due to battery pack issues.

At the same time, ELLEN’s design has proven to be quite unique amid the rapid subsequent development and deployment of smaller electric ro-pax ferries in Northern Europe, where Norway now holds an absolute leading position. ELLEN was, in fact, the last ferry in its segment to be built without combustion engine-based gensets as backup or so-called range extenders in case of breakdowns or shipyard visits.

According to Ærøfærgerne, there are several reasons for replacing the entire battery pack: “Wear on individual battery modules on board has proven to be relatively uneven. Some battery modules are expected to last the anticipated 10 years, while others have worn out faster than expected. The increased wear is primarily due to the long lead times for spare batteries of the original type, which meant the ferry operated for extended periods on a reduced schedule, with one round trip removed. During these periods, the ferry has not sailed with full battery capacity, which has led to increased wear on the remaining battery modules. The ferry is currently operating on a reduced schedule due to the long delivery times for the original battery type,” Ærøfærgerne reports, adding that analyses show replacing the entire battery system at once will be both the cheapest and the best operational solution.

It is also expected to cause the least disruption to operations and passengers in the long run. The 996gt ELLEN has capacity for 196 passengers and space for 31 cars or up to four trucks.

© Shippax