Nicola Sturgeon's flagship hybrid ferry now only runs on diesel as battery too expensive to fix
A hybrid electric ferry hailed by Nicola Sturgeon is now only running on polluting diesel because a £1.5million battery is taking 18 months to replace. The MV Hallaig was the first in the world to use a system which cut carbon emissions by 20 per cent when it was launched in 2012.
But the battery broke on the £10million vessel in September and bosses have admitted it could be April 2025 before it’s fixed because the replacement part is no longer available.
It’s now the third problem ferry in Scotland after the controversy over the MV Glen Sannox and MV Glen Rosa which are six years overdue and £260million over budget.
Alfred Baird, formerly professor of maritime business and director of the Maritime Transport Research Group at Edinburgh Napier University, said he was consulted on the hybrid ferries but advised against them. He claims officials at the Scottish Government then complained to his bosses about his work and tried to stop his research being published.
6 comments:
Obviously his science wasn't sufficiently settled.
More than a flavour of the Post Office scandal in this account don't you think?
Sam - and his evidence was probably not even policy-driven.
Tammly - yes, cover it up at all costs and whatever the damage.
Look on the bright side - it's less likely to catch fire now!
£1500000 for one battery. Jings, crivvens, help ma boab. That would buy a lot of fish suppers.
Electrickery, lithium batteries - one off - they are using the prototype, salt water and sea spray in the battery cooling air, real storms - not named breezes, condensation. What could possibly go wrong. At least it did not explode. But that would have been the diesel, of course.
Not mentioned is the cost of the upgraded electricity supply to supply the megawatts needed to charge this white elephant.
Bet Wee Nippy's motor home was not battery powered.
Dave - so the insurance should be reduced, although disposing of the dud battery could be expensive.
Doonhamer - and if they charge it up with wind power they may as well go back to sailing ships.
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