EU project will provide roughly 400 new charging points for electric boats

Over 400 new charging points for electric boats in harbors along the coast from Gothenburg all the way to Kristansand in Norway’s Sørlandet. It is part of the content of a Swedish-Norwegian cooperation project that has now been granted EU funds.

With a distinct recreational boating culture, many ports, marine destinations and a tradition of boat manufacturing, the Skagerrak region has good conditions for a rapid electrification transition. And Norway has already shown the way.

Sweden and Norway together have one million motor-driven leisure boats. Almost all are powered by fossil fuels and carbon dioxide emissions are estimated at over 400,000 tonnes per year plus environmentally harmful substances.

The Swedish-Norwegian electric boat charging project will create conditions for establishing a charging route for electric boats in leisure marinas between Gothenburg and Strömstad, into the Oslofjord and further south on the other side of Skagerack to Norwegian Kristiansand. The project’s goal is participation in the green transition through electrification, smart technology and sustainable business models. Among other things, over 400 new charging points are to be created.

Good conditions for adjustment

With a distinct recreational boating culture, many ports, marine destinations and a tradition of boat manufacturing, the Skagerrak region has good conditions for rapid changeover in electric boat charging and adjacent services. There are also relevant technology suppliers and good knowledge in vehicle electrification where the project will look more closely at certain parts of sharing charging infrastructure.

“Great potential to accelerate the green shift”

Norway has come further with the conversion of recreational boats compared to Sweden. Among other things, there has been an electric boat association for a few years with the aim of working for the green shift for leisure boats. In Arendal’s municipality, work is underway with both charging plans and a charging map, and the Lydløs electric boat festival is a well-attended arena for the future of boating.

The work areas of the electric boat charging project

The collaboration will take place under the name go:LEIF (Green Transition with Charging, Electrification and Infrastructure for Recreational Boats) and will extend from March 1, 2023 to December 31, 2025.

The project’s work areas:

  • Increase interest and competence in electric boats and electric boat charging among ports, municipalities and people interested in boats.
  • Provide testbeds within charging infrastructure for test and demo and enterprise collaboration.
  • Strengthen technology development and the region’s business life in relevant areas.
  • Research studies around leisure boat use for knowledge building important for the development of electric boats and charging infrastructure.
  • Business models for charging, effect on electricity grids and potential to combine boat charging with renewable energy production.

Also read: Marine environment

References: https://www.arendal.kommune.no/