Sparks fly at Incat as electric ship greets Tesla Cybertruck
It was a case of game recognising game at Incat on Tuesday, when the boatbuilder’s first electric ship came face-to-face with Australia’s only Tesla Cybertruck.
Tasmania
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It was a case of game recognising game at Incat on Tuesday, when the boatbuilder’s first electric ship came face to face with Australia’s only Tesla Cybertruck.
Not yet available for sale in Australia, the Cybertruck is a battery-powered electric utility released by the Elon Musk-run carmaker into the North America market last year.
After offering a glimpse into the combined future of sustainable transport, Incat spokesperson Tom Cooper said the iconic Hobart catamaran builder and the Texas-based automotive company were on the same journey towards a low-emissions future.
“This is about bringing the best in innovation and engineering together,” Mr Cooper said of the Cybertruck’s Goodwood pit stop.
“Tesla is obviously leading the way in sustainable road transportation, while Incat is leading the charge in terms of maritime transport.
“We’ve been looking to do something with Tesla for a while now, so having the Cybertruck here in Tasmania was the perfect opportunity to get it in front of the world’s largest electric ferry.”
Currently under construction, Hull 96 is a 130m, 100 per cent battery-electric vessel that will carry 2100 passengers and 225 vehicles between Buenos Aires and Uruguay when it is launched next year.
Operating on an international river route by South American operator Buquebus, the ship will also include a 2000 sqm duty free shop.
Incat said the ferry’s battery storage, which will power a water-jet propulsion system, would be four times larger than any battery previously installed anywhere in the world for marine transport.
“Incat is so excited to be showcasing this to the industry, and moving forward with our transition from building diesel ships to sustainable electric ships,” Mr Cooper said.
“We’re very happy to be an industry leader in this space …and discussions are well advanced in terms of our next sustainable build.
”Incat hopes that by 2026, we will have multiple electric vessels in operation across the world.”
Incat has been building ferries for more than four decades, and founder Robert Clifford has previously said the current workforce of 450 could increase to more than 1000 over the next few years as the company ramps up production of electric vessels.
As previously reported by the Mercury, the company has enlisted former Premier Peter Gutwein as a strategic adviser to help seize the opportunities of zero-emissions ferries in the global market.
Hobart car fans can see the Cybertruck at 402 Brooker Highway, Derwent Park (the old A-Mart building) on Saturday morning.
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