Aussie designed, built hydrogen fuel cell ferry revealed
Home-grown hydrogen fuel cell technology for the road makes the jump to the waterAn Australian start-up keen to build the first homegrown hydrogen fuel cell car has announced it has kicked off a new project – building the nation’s first homegrown hydrogen fuel cell ferry.
H2X Australia is a Brisbane-based company that plans to introduce the four-door Snowy to Australia in 2022. The car’s innovative design wraps an SUV-styled body around a fuel cell that converts hydrogen to electricity by mixing it with oxygen from the atmosphere.
The only emission from the vehicle is the water generated in the fuel cell reaction that creates the electricity.
Unlike an electric car, the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle takes just three minutes to refuel and can come with a range of up to 650km, meaning the Snowy SUV can travel much further than a similarly sized battery-powered vehicle.
However, H2X has announced it has now formed H2X Marine, an offshoot of the automotive arm that aims to start building Australia’s first hydrogen-powered ferry.
This first ferry, a catamaran called the Maroochy, will introduce a range of zero-emission passenger ferries for commercial and industrial use, H2X Marine said. Production capacity is estimated at up to 30 ferries a year once H2X Marine establishes itself.
Growing workforce
The company has partnered with Brisbane-based commercial boat builder Wildcat Marine and aims to add another 40 workers, including boatbuilders and hydrogen fuel cell specialists, to its books once production ramps up.
The first boat will be made from aluminium, and capable of carrying up to 50 passengers. The hydrogen fuel cell will power two 120kW (160hp) electric motors
“We are making a significant capital investment in this new industry because we firmly believe that the use of green hydrogen is the fuel to drive Australia’s industry as we phase out fossil fuels. “ H2X Marine chairman Craig Elvin said.
“We should be demonstrating the ferry by Q1 of next year. In terms of business, we’re looking to get letters of intent from potential customers and partner with early investors to expand H2X Marine,” Elvin said.
“We’ve been operating very much in stealth mode.”
However, while the initial focus will be on commercial applications of the technology, H2X Marine chief executive Sam Blackadder said recreational boats were in the wider plan, including retrofitting existing marine watercraft.
Australian renewable energy specialist Elvin Group Renewables is also part of the venture.
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