Six weeks is the anniversary of the sinking of the Felicity Ace, a ferry that burned and sank with about 4,000 cars on board. It had been far too long to extinguish the fire. Now a first shipping company is banning the transport of electric cars on their ships. The reason is probably the danger posed by electric vehicles that have caught fire.
Electric cars do not catch fire more often than combustion engine vehicles, on the contrary. However, it is much more complicated to remove them. That is why shipping company Havila Kystruten burns all e-cars, hybrids and hydrogen cars. Unlike the fire in a conventional car, a possible battery fire could not be extinguished by the crew, says general manager Bent Martini. A danger to both those on board and the ship.
It is precisely a Norwegian shipping company that pronounces the electricity ban – Norway is a real Stromer country: in 2020 almost 80 percent of newly registered cars there were electrically powered. Havila Kystruten currently transports goods and people, mainly tourists, on the Norwegian mail route with two ships and from March with four ships.
The Havila ships themselves have large battery packs on board, can sometimes sail electrically and are among the most environmentally friendly ships that navigate the coastal route, writes BusinessPortal Norway. However, these batteries are in insulated, fireproof areas with special fire protection systems.
Drivers beware!
If you want to embark by car in Norway, you should inform yourself in advance. On the one hand, other shipping companies could follow Havila Kystruten’s example, on the other hand, the provider also limits traffic for combustion vehicles. These are only loaded and unloaded in Bergen and Kirkenes.
But: a fundamental e-car ban on ships is hardly to be expected. TT Line, for example, takes a different approach: the ships of the “Green Line” are equipped with charging stations where passengers can charge their electric car with 20 or 40 kW direct current (in case of double or single occupancy) or 11 kW alternating current.
However, TT does not have special extinguishing technology for e-cars on board either.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
