Commuters to the Lake Geneva region of Switzerland and France will soon have a new futuristic and environmentally sound way of traveling to work thanks to Leclanché SA’s selection to equip two new hybrid-powered vessels with a state-of-the-art battery storage system commissioned by Compagnie Générale de Navigation sur le Léman (CGN SA).
Leclanché, one of the world’s leading energy storage companies, was selected by Swiss shipbuilding company Shiptec AG, based in Lucerne, and Siemens Energy SRL, Milan, for the project.
The two ships, each with a capacity of 700 passengers, will replace existing diesel-powered vessels and will be used to transport passengers between Switzerland and France with projected completion dates of 2022 and 2023. Leclanché’s Marine Rack System, powered by the company’s proprietary lithium-ion cell batteries, was developed especially for the maritime industry and will reduce the ships’ consumption of fossil fuels by 40% and offer unprecedented ease of use and operation.
The order enables Leclanché to make a significant contribution to the fight against global warming in its home region, where it designs and assembles its state-of-the-art energy storage systems. It also strengthens its position as a pioneer in the electrification of the global maritime industry.
In its fast-growing eTransport Solutions business, Leclanché is the supplier of choice for several leading maritime transport companies, helping merchant fleets to adapt to new regulations for approaching ports and moorings, and drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Among others, Leclanché battery systems equip the Danish ship Ellen, the world’s most powerful all-electric ferry, and commercial vessels from the Italian company Grimaldi, manufactured by the Norwegian shipbuilder Kongsberg. The first of the nine ships ordered by Grimaldi is currently undergoing sea trials.
The battery systems supplied by Leclanché use high-energy G-NMC lithium-ion cells with unique safety features, including a bi-cellular laminate design and ceramic separators. Leclanché specifically designs and manufactures systems certified for use in the aquatic environment (Class Type Approved and Certified Marine Rack Systems (MRS)), including fire prevention and extinguishing systems. The project has received the DNV-GL Type Approval Certificate and the DNV-GL Product Certificate. The company based in Yverdon-les-Bains develops and manufactures its own graphite/NMC (lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide) and LTO (lithium titanate oxide) batteries.
“We are proud and happy to have been selected by Siemens Energy and Shiptec to equip CGN group’s new hybrid vessels. CGN is a symbol for the region in which Leclanché has grown and continues to develop. This choice demonstrates once again the quality and reliability of Leclanché’s battery systems and its pioneering role in the transformation of maritime transport towards environmentally friendly propulsion,” said Anil Srivastava, Leclanché’s chief executive officer.
