Auckland’s first hybrid-electric ferry is almost ready to carry passengers after completing its sea trials this week, with services expected to begin in June.
The vessel, named Waitematā 1, will operate on the busy Devonport to Downtown Auckland route. It was built in Whanganui by Q-West Boat Builders and can carry up to 299 passengers and 20 bikes.
During testing, the 32-metre ferry reached a top speed of 36 knots running on electric power alone, which was faster than expected. When running in electric mode, the ferry’s energy costs are up to 75 per cent lower than a traditional diesel vessel.
Auckland Transport chief executive Stacey van der Putten said the new ferry would make a real difference to commuters who have had to put up with an ageing and sometimes unreliable fleet. “Every new vessel that we have on board improves the average age of the fleet as a whole,” she said.
The Waitematā 1 is the first of two hybrid-electric ferries ordered for Auckland. The second is still being completed in Whanganui and is expected to arrive about six months later.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown welcomed the news, describing it as a positive step for one of the city’s busiest transport routes.
The ferry uses a combination of electric motors, batteries, and on-board generators. While it is not fully electric, it produces far fewer emissions than older diesel ferries and is part of Auckland’s wider push toward cleaner public transport.
