Echandia batteries for San Francisco Bay Ferry fleet

Swedish maritime battery system supplier Echandia has been selected to supply maritime battery systems for San Fransisco Bay Ferry’s Rapid Electric Emission Free (REEF) ferry program.

This project is said to mark a significant step towards advancing zero-emission water transit in the San Francisco Bay area.

As part of the REEF Program, San Fransisco Bay Ferry is set to introduce a fleet of battery electric ferries, the first zero-emission high-speed ferries in the USA. The first phase of this project includes the deployment of three 150-passenger battery electric ferries to operate on a network connecting emerging waterfront neighborhoods in San Francisco, and two 400-passenger battery electric ferries serving current SF Bay Ferry routes in Oakland and Alameda.

The first REEF vessel is expected to enter service in 2026, with the initial battery systems scheduled for delivery in Q2 2025.

SF Bay Ferry and its REEF integration team are also working on designs for a new electric charging float for the Downtown San Francisco Ferry Terminal. The float will have energy storage via battery banks to allow for rapid charging during dwell times at the terminal.

In July, Echandia announced the opening of a production facility in Marysville, WA. This facility will ensure that the San Francisco Bay’s new zero-emission vessels are powered with American-made batteries and FTA compliant. This means that Echandias battery systems will meet Buy America provisions, which require a certain percentage of the product’s components to be manufactured in the United States.

“We’re proud to be working with Echandia to advance the nation’s first high-speed, high-capacity battery electric ferries in the United States,” Seamus Murphy, Executive Director of San Francisco Bay Ferry, commented.

“Among the many benefits of our program will be the creation of new jobs and the expansion of the US zero-emission maritime industry. By opening this new facility, Echandia is helping us realize those benefits.”

“This is a milestone achievement for our expansion into the North American market. This is so far probably the most prestigious maritime electrification project in the world to be a part of, and I think many others will look at this project as a benchmark moving forward,” Fredrik Hellström, CEO of Echandia, said.

In related news, the first hydrogen fuel cell-powered ferry in the United States commenced operations in San Francisco Bay last month.

The vessel, MV Sea Change, will operate as a part of the San Francisco Bay Ferry network for a six-month demonstration period designed to showcase the application of fuel cell technology as a viable strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality.