In a major breakthrough, electric vehicle (EV) drivers using ferries to the Northern Isles of Scotland may soon be able to charge their cars onboard ship following guidance issued to ferry operators by the Maritime Coastguard Agency.
Orkney islanders, who have been campaigning for years for facilities to charge their cars onboard ferries, have welcomed the news that this major hurdle has now been overcome... ferry operators could now install charge points on ships, particularly on the longer routes.
This, according to the Electric Vehicle Association Scotland, will also be a major boost for tourism as increasing numbers of visitors to the islands are driving EVs.
'We have been trying to get chargers on these ferries for the last four years,' explained Neil Kermode, chair of the Orkney Renewable Energy Forum and a director of the Electric Vehicle Association Scotland. 'The main reason for this being that northbound ferries from Aberdeen arrive in Orkney at 11 at night. We were keen that tired drivers would be able to have enough charge in their cars to drive to their homes or hotels without needing to try and find a charge point at midnight.'
EV drivers in Orkney have been campaigning to persuade Northlink Ferries to install slow speed chargers on the ships that ply between Aberdeen, Orkney and Shetland since 2018 but a lack of guidance from the Maritime Coast Guard Agency (MCA) prevented this. With the last regulatory hurdle now removed, problems could be overcome. The new
Marine Guidance Note details the necessary precautions required when taking EVs on ferries and looks much wider than just charging.
'When we first contacted the MCA in 2018, there were very few EVs about and the missing guidance was not on their priority list. They made it clear that was not going to change,' explained Neil Kermode. 'In the intervening years, EV sales have gone up exponentially, with EVs becoming increasingly common on our roads and therefore on our ferries. The need to make sure the carriage of EVs was considered had become increasingly important. The issue of the MCA guidance is therefore heartily welcomed by both EVA Scotland and the Orkney Renewable Energy Forum.
'Northlink Ferries have already installed chargers at their terminals as have other operators, however, the process of arriving early enough to be sure of getting an adequate charge could become fraught as numbers of EV drivers increase. With the cars sitting idle on ships for up to five hours while on passage, it seemed to us like a good time to provide EV charging to those really in need.'
He added: 'Although the new guidance will also allow charging on short ferry routes, this is not being recommended as the source of the electricity on ships is presently a diesel engine powering the ship itself. For short crossings, the cars would not get enough charge to make the process worthwhile. For long crossings, a gentle
home charge rate will give the vital miles to get to accommodation. Although it is still diesel being used to charge the cars, this is better than no charge at all'.
A spokesperson for Serco NorthLink Ferries said: 'Following recent guidance from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, we are assessing the risks associated with the fitment and use of EV charging onboard to inform decision making'.
Booking of onboard charging services is expected to be required and it is anticipated that there will be a fee. 'This is not a way of getting cheap electricity, it is more of a service to EV drivers arriving at their destinations, sometimes late at night,' said Kermode.
Orkney is one island that is well prepared and set up for EV tourism. EV ownership is already very popular on the islands. Kermode added: 'This important step by the MCA will help Orkney be just that little bit more ready for the EV revolution already underway'.
The MV Hrossy and MV Hjartland each have over 20,000kW of diesel engines aboard to power the ship. It is expected that only a few 6kW charger bays will be needed aboard, amounting to less than 50kW. Already the refrigerated trucks aboard the ferries plug in and use between 6kW and 9kW, so the EV car demand will be small compared with longstanding freight.
The MGA suggests that cars will be placed in designated bays and that ferry crews will make the electrical connection once the car decks are cleared of passengers.
Norrie Hunter is
a motoring journalist and is currently advising Electric Vehicle Association Scotland on press and media communications
