The first fully electric zero-emissions ferry in the United Kingdom has been launched on the River Thames in London by operator Uber Boat by Thames Clippers.
Set to operate between Rotherhithe on the south of the River Thames and Canary Wharf on the northern side, the new electric ferry, named Orbit Clipper, will cross the river every 10 minutes on weekdays and 15 minutes on weekends.
Orbit Clipper’s roll-on/roll-off design enables automated docking on both sides and has space for 150 passengers as well as 100 bicycles.
“The launch of Orbit Clipper is a significant milestone for sustainable transport in London,” said Sean Collins, CEO of Uber Boat Thames Clippers.
“As the UK’s first all-electric, zero-emissions vessel, it represents our commitment to reducing the city’s carbon footprint while continuing to provide reliable and efficient river transport.
“Orbit Clipper not only showcases cutting-edge innovation but also sets a new standard for eco-friendly travel on the Thames, helping to shape a cleaner, greener future for Londoners and visitors alike.”
Thames Clippers was founded in 1999 and has operated a number of ferries under licence by the London River Services division of Transport for London (TfL). In 2020, Thames Clippers entered into a partnership with global rideshare giant Uber and renamed to Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, enabling tickets for ferry services to be purchased through the Uber app.
The new Orbit Clipper project was brought to life by a number of partners alongside Uber Boat by Thames Clippers. Funding from the Department for Transport and Innovate UK was critical to the project, while the ferry itself was designed by Australian ship builders Aus Ships and built by high-speed aluminium ship builder, Wight Shipyard Company.
Others involved in the birth of the Orbit Clipper include maritime civil engineering consultants, Beckett Rankine and electric infrastructure specialists, Aqua SuperPower.
It will take a few months before the Orbit Clipper is running the Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf route on its own, during which time it will operate in tandem with the route’s current vessel, Twinstar. But Uber Boat by Thams Clippers expects the Orbit Clipper to be operating exclusively on the route by the second quarter of next year.
“This is a fantastic new transport option for Londoners – not only cleaner and greener than its predecessor but providing quicker and more accessible journeys across the river for far more people,” said Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, who was on hand for the official launch of the ferry.
“Innovation and investment in travel infrastructure like this will help us navigate the challenges facing our environment and our economy as we continue building a fairer, greener, better London for everyone.”
Ship builder Wight Shipyard was awarded the contract to build the Orbit Clipper back in March of 2022, the seventh vessel that the firm has built for Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, which also include the operator’s three 40-metre hybrid-electric passenger ferries.
The Orbit Clipper measures 25.2-metres in length and 10.1-metres in beam and is powered by an EST-Floattech Octopus battery pack with a total capacity of 960-kilowatt-hours (kWh).
Charging infrastructure was provided by Aqua SuperPower and will allow the ferry to dock after an 18-hour workday at Canary Wharf to recharge overnight – a process that is expected to take 6 hours at 150 kW.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.
