Magnetics Business & Technology - July/August 2019 - 4

EDITOR'S CHOICE

ABB Powers Tourists to Niagara Falls with First US-Built All-Electric
Vessels, Equipped with both Permanent-Magnet and InductiveMagnet Thruster Motors
Visitors to the iconic Niagara Falls will soon be
able to experience one of the US's top landmarks emission-free. Two new Maid of the Mist
passenger vessels will be entirely powered by
high-capacity battery packs and driven by electric motors utilizing both permanent magnet and
inductive magnetic technologies-becoming the
first all-electric vessels ever built in the US.
The new vessels will benefit from ABB's zeroemission technology when they start operating
later this year, allowing guests to experience
Niagara Falls undisturbed by engine noise,
vibration or exhaust fumes from a conventional
diesel engine.
Maid of the Mist, one of North America's oldest tourist attractions, operates from April
through to the first week of November, with boats departing for the base of Niagara Falls
every 30 minutes, with an estimated 1.6 million guests on board annually.
"We are thrilled to be the US's first vessel owner to add all-electric ferries to our fleet," said
Christopher M. Glynn, president of Maid of the Mist Corp. "We have chosen ABB to support
us in our journey towards more sustainable operation based on their unparalleled experience in marine system integration, as well as efficient and innovative technologies for
sustainable transportation."
"Maid of the Mist's decisive move towards e-mobility signals a new era in the future of
transportation and complements ABB's commitment to power the world without consuming
the earth," said Peter Terwiesch, president of the Industrial Automation business at ABB,
which offers solutions for a wide range of industries, including marine.
Each of the vessels will be equipped with two main thruster propulsion motors that are
water cooled permanent magnetic motors. Additionally, each vessel will have twin bow
thruster motors for steering and docking which are induction motors due to lower utilization.
Power for the vessels will come from a pair of battery packs with a total capacity of 316
kWh per vessel, split evenly between two catamaran hulls. Having two fully independent
power systems on board will increase the resilience of operations by creating a redundancy.

Volume 18, Issue 4
Editor & Publisher
David Webster
Director of Operations and
Support Services
Ross Webster
Director of Sales and Content
Scott Webster
Design & Layout
Scott Webster
Administration
Marsha Grillo

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The vessels will charge between every trip while passengers disembark and board. Shoreside charging will only take seven minutes, allowing the batteries to power the electric
propulsion motors capable of a total 400 kW (563 HP) output. The power setup will be
controlled by ABB's integrated Power and Energy Management System which will optimize
the energy use on board.
The batteries will be charged using hydropower-the largest single renewable energy
source for electricity generation in the US, which accounts for 7 percent of the country's
total utility-scale electricity generation. The use of locally produced renewable power
will make the energy cycle for the operation of the new Maid of the Mist vessels entirely
emission-free.
Sustainable transportation has a crucial role in the fight against climate change, with
shipping accounting for 2 to 3 percent of the world's total greenhouse gas emissions. The
International Maritime Organization, a United Nations agency responsible for regulating
shipping, has set a global target to cut annual emissions by at least 50 percent by 2050
from 2008 levels.

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