Electric boat in rental: - It is very cost-saving for us
CEO at Tregde Ferie in Mandal, Norway, Sven Arne Thuestad. He has had an electric boat for rent this year. Photo: Green Waves
When one of the eight “Skager 660”-boats Tregde Ferie is using for rental needed a new motor, the curiosity for electric peaked. The holiday resort decided to go for an electric drivetrain from Green Waves, and Sven Arne can tell us all about how great it has been with an electric boat this summer season.
It is conceivable that Tregde Ferie is one of the longest-lived holiday centers in southern Norway with it’s 50 years of operation in Mandal. Today, the facility has become larger than ever with almost 100 cabins and apartments, outdoor swimming pool, sauna, restaurant, a shop and a number of rental boats and other water activities. Both people from Mandal in Agder and people from other parts of the country come here throughout the summer. The rest of the year there are also many international tourists who come for a stay, especially many German fishing tourists. Their boats are used by guests for both recreation and fishing in the Mandal area.
In addition, Tregde Ferie is environmentally certified through “Miljøfyrtårn.no”. Here they have dedicated people who work precisely with environmental efforts and sustainability in the company, and in recent years they have made large investments for a more environmentally friendly operation such as only electric cars in the fleet and LED lighting throughout the facility. When the time came to change the engine in one of their boats, it was natural to consider an electric drivetrain.
The electric “Skager 660” that Tregde Ferie has been renting out to their guests this past season. Foto: Green Waves
“I have used the boat myself several times when I want to go fishing and it’s just such a joy.”
Controversial-free batteries
- We thought it was fun to see how it worked technically and also to see how the market would accept such an innovation. We searched the market to find suppliers and then we saw Green Waves. For us, it is interesting to support local businesses, says Sven Arne and adds that even though it is a few hours to drive between Mandal and Gjerstad, it is important to choose a Norwegian supplier rather than a foreign supplier.
It was also reassuring for Sven Arne and Tregde Ferie that the batteries from Green Waves do not contain the controversial metal cobalt, as there are many challenges associated with extraction in, for example, the mines in Congo. It was important to Sven Arne that they knew what they were ordering and where it came from, in terms of environmental friendliness and sustainable trade.
- It is important to know where the product originates from. Our staff are concerned with this and these are relevant questions for us. When we make such an investment, it is important to us that we make an environmentally friendly choice without being accused of engaging in “greenwashing”. In this case, we carried out an investigation into the contents of the batteries, that they were labeled according to all rules and that there was a system to ensure that the batteries could be reused in the future, says Sven Arne.
Also read: - To glide without a sound in a limestone nature with white sand bottoms is like a dream!
Two of the 10 total batteries that we installed in the “Skager 660” to Tregde Ferie. These are of the chemistry lithium iron-phosphate and do not contain any cobalt. Photo: Green Waves
Never reached 0%
As this is a converted diesel boat, the hull is not optimized for electric operation. In order to inform guests who will be using the boat, Tregde Ferie has created a form that will be reviewed with those who will be renting the boat so that it is ensured that the tenant has an understanding of what they are renting. Considerations must be taken in regards to the physical limitations found in the motor, battery and hull.
- I have used the boat myself several times when I want to go fishing and it's just such a joy, says Sven Arne with a smile.
To ensure that guests renting the boat do not run out of power, two separate battery packs have been installed on board the boat. One main bank of 15kWt and a reserve bank of 10kWt, together with the electric motor of 10kW output. This way, the person using the boat can switch over to the reserve if the main batteries have run out of power, and then have enough power to get back to the docks. So far, no one has managed to drain both battery banks while out enjoying the archipelago.
- We have a limited geographical area they must be within when they are out with the boats, be it diesel or electric drivetrain. If they use the electric boat and get close to 0% on the main battery pack, there must be enough power on the reserve pack to get home again, says Sven Arne.
“We also inform everyone who rents the boat, regardless of whether it is for a short or long time, that it must be charged every time. So that means it is fully charged all the time”
Sven Arne takes us on a trip in the all electric boat in the beautiful Mandal archipelago. Photo: Green Waves
Emission-free fishing pleasure
After this season, the team at Tregde Ferie has learned a lot about renting out an electric boat. Good routines and a thorough review with the guests who will rent the boat are necessary measures to ensure safe and secure operation throughout the summer. Sven Arne also says that the boat may not be rented out to those who are going to sea to fish for many hours, but rather those who are looking for sea trout or nature experiences and do not necessarily need a lot of fish inside the boat.
- Many of our guests fish in such a way that they drive upwind, stop the engine and glide back again with the wind. With a diesel boat, no one is allowed to turn off the engine, it must run all the time. But with an electric boat, it uses no electricity when you put the motor in neutral. So the electric boat is much more environmentally friendly that way, and there is also no noise and less fuel consumption. It is cheaper for us now that the diesel price has been up to NOK 25 per liter this summer, says Sven Arne.
““We can easily imagine replacing more diesel engines with electric motors as the need arises””
He can also tell us that they are busy checking the boat while it is at the docks for charging, to double check that both the cable is securely attached to the plug on land, and that the plug on board the boat is not only inserted, but also tightened tightly so that it does not fall out.
- We also inform everyone who rents the boat, regardless of whether it is for a short or long time, that it must be charged every time. So that means it is fully charged all the time, says Sven Arne.
Another thing Tregde Ferie has experienced is that the location of the screen that monitors consumption, battery capacity and remaining driving time should perhaps have been placed at a higher location on the engine compartment and with a brighter screen. This is good feedback for us at Green Waves to consider next time!
Recommends electric for other rental companies
Sven Arne says that they have not spent a single calorie on maintaining the electric motor in the boat, while on all the other boats they rent out they have to check the oil, water and filter at routinely.
- It is very cost-saving for us that way, says Sven Arne.
Sven Arne also says that he could imagine that several of their boats could be converted to electric drive in the future, but then hopes that the technology will develop somewhat more so that the boats can have a better range and maintain a higher speed over time.
- We can imagine replacing more diesel engines with electric engines as the need arises, says Sven Arne.
He also believes that there are several holiday resorts that could benefit from electric boats for rental use, but he does not believe that fishing boats on the coast of Finnmark will go first.
- There are many of our type of facilities in calm waters, such as in many western fjords, which are already burdened with a little too much exhaust in the air, and an electric boat would suit them well. But electric boats have their uses, while diesel boats have different uses, says Svein Arne.
The electric boat on it’s way out from the big facility at Tregde Ferie’s holiday resort. Photo: Green Waves
Finally, Sven Arne will say that he was very satisfied with the service provided by Green Waves. He was called several times during the project period and corrections were suggested in the work. There were also recommendations and suggestions for making improvements to the boat itself. He thought it was very nice to have it all done.
- It appears to be well done in terms of craftsmanship and within the overall budget that they had given us for the entire rebuild. So we can recommend Green Waves for this type of work, he says in conclusion.
Many thanks to Sven Arne Thuestad at Tregde Ferie!