Germany To Power Electric Ferries Using Electric Vehicles As Floating Power Banks
Our take
Germany is using a unique method to power electric ferries using parked electric vehicles as mobile energy storage units, to cut the use of fossil fuels and ease the burden on the electricity network.
Known as the “Bi-directional Integration of Electric Vehicles” (BIDI-EL), the project was launched by the Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences and ferry operator AG Reederei Norden-Frisia.
The funds were provided by DBU, the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU), with nearly USD 200,000.
It is dependent on a Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) system wherein electric vehicles are connected to the energy grid.
Researchers associated with the project said that it aims to establish an environmentally friendly transport system for the East Frisian Islands in the North Sea.
Launch of The Frisia E-I Passenger Ferry In German North Sea
The initiative was brought to test after the 2025 launch of Norden-Frisia’s passenger ferry, the Frisia E-I, the first fully electric passenger ferry in the German North Sea.
The 32 m carbon-neutral vessel can transport 150 people in 30 minutes between Norddeich Mole station and the island of Norderney.
Once it reaches the harbour, parked electric vehicles and solar panels feed power into the charging station.
This method could reduce the pressure on the local electricity grid and promote the use of renewable energy.
The site of the ferry operator has a PV system with a capacity of 1,700 kilowatt-peak (kWp). Installed in 2024, it has already received approval for further expansion.
The charging infrastructure also includes a battery storage system, which will be supplemented by batteries of the electric vehicles.
The project is being jointly led by Pfisterer and Kai-Michael Griese, PhD, a professor specialising in sustainability-focused business models and circular economy strategies.
In a press release, Griese mentioned that the aim is to create long-term, viable energy supply solutions without harming the environment.
The project is set to run until 2027, and is expected to generate insights beyond the initial project outcomes.
Olaf Weddermann, Reederei Norden-Frisia’s managing director, said the project marks another step toward cleaner maritime transport.
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