With the electric car to ferry? No problem!
Taking an electric car to ferry can be a great way to travel longer distances while being kinder to the environment. However, it is important to plan the booking and preparation carefully to ensure a safe and smooth crossing. There is even already the possibility to charge your electric car to ferry. In this guide, we’ll give you tips on how to be best prepared to take your electric car to the ferry.
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Booking & Preparation
Before you start your journey, you should make sure that your ferry will also take your electric car. Currently there are very few exceptions (Havila Kystruten & Höegh Autoliners). All other shipping companies we know of will be very happy to take you and your electric car! Charging facilities on board, charging before departure
On board the ferry
Once you’re on board, you should park your electric car safely. On new ferries like TT-Line’s new Peter Pan and new Nils Holgersson, there are already charging options on board the ferry. Onboard charging is also possible to Irish Ferries’ new England ferries or the Stena Line ferry Scandinavica from Kiel to Gothenburg. Other shipping companies will also soon offer the loading option. However, the charging stations to crossing should be booked in advance. If you have booked the charging option, the staff to ferry will direct you to your parking space. There you can connect your vehicle to the charging station and start the charging process.
Depending on to duration of the crossing, it should be enough for your electric car to be recharged when you reach your destination port.
Already known charging options on board the ferries
| Shipping company & routes | ferryboats | Charging stations & costs | to booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| TT-Line | Nils Holgersson | 32 stations Type 2 & CCS with 11-40kW 35 € per vehicle |
Book TT-Line |
| Fjord Line | Fjord FSTR | 16 charging stations Type 2 with 22kW 13 € per vehicle |
Book Fjord Line |
| Irish Ferries | MV Ulysses
MV W.B. Yeats |
3-6 charging stations Type 2 with 3,7-7kW 15 € per vehicle (Cherbourg-Dublin) 0 € per vehicle (Holyhead-Dublin) |
Book Irish Ferries |
| Stena Line Kiel-Gothenburg |
Stena Scandinavica | 6 charging places at 3 charging stations Type 2 with 22kW each 25 € per vehicle |
Book Stena Line |
After the crossing
Upon arrival at your destination port, you will have normal access to your electric car, just like all other travelers. If you have used the on-board charging facility, disconnect the power supply and stow all charging cables in your vehicle. For your onward journey, you should find out in advance about the charging infrastructure to and at your destination.
FAQ about the ferry ride with the electric car
Are electric cars allowed to ferries?
We can answer that with a clear “YES”. You can use all ferry connections known to us with your electric car in the same way as with a normal combustion vehicle. It does not matter whether your electric vehicle is a pure e-car (BEV) or a plug-in hybrid (PHEV).
Can I book a ferry crossing with my electric car?
Yes, this is possible without any problems. Book the crossing with your electric car as you are used to.
How do I book a ferry for my electric car?
Bookings with charging options for electric cars are currently only possible directly via the shipping companies:
- Bookferry Rostock-Trelleborg with TT-Line
- Bookferry Swinoujscie-Trelleborg with TT-Line
- Bookferry Travemunde-Trelleborg with TT-Line
- Book a ferry Hirtshals-Kristiansand with Fjord Line
- Bookferry Holyhead-Dublin with Irish Ferries
- Bookferry Cherbourg-Dublin with Irish Ferries
- Bookferry Kiel-Gothenburg with Stena Line
For all other bookings you can easily use the following travel search with booking form:
Can I charge my electric car during the crossing?
Yes, there are already charging options on board ferries. Further up in the article you will find a list of the few shipping companies that already allow charging on board. At many ports you can also use the waiting time before boarding to charge your electric car in port.
What is the cost of charging to the ferry?
The cost of charging your electric car to ferry is quite different. From free to Irish Ferries’ Holyhead-Dublin route to €35 to new TT-Line ferries, the range is quite wide. However, the crossing time on to respective route and the charging capacity of the stations must also be taken into account. In the following table you will find an overview of the costs for e-car charging to the ferry:
| Operator | Route | Travel time | Charging current | possible load per trip | Cost per charge |
Cost per kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TT-Line | Travemünde-Trelleborg | 8 hours | 20kW | 160kW | 35,00 € | 0,22 € |
| TT-Line | Rostock-Trelleborg | 6 hours | 20kW | 120kW | 35,00 € | 0,29 € |
| TT-Line | Świnoujście-Trelleborg | 6 hours | 20kW | 120kW | 35,00 € | 0,29 € |
| Fjord Line | Hirtshals-Kristiansand | 2,5 hours | 22kW | 55kW | 13,00 € | 0,24 € |
| Irish Ferries | Holyhead-Dublin | 3 hours | 7kW | 21kW | 0,00 € | 0,00 € |
| Irish Ferries | Cherbourg-Dublin | 19 hours | 3,7kW | 70,3kW | 15,00 € | 0,21 € |
| Stena Line | Kiel-Gothenburg | 14 hours 30 minutes | 22kW | 319kW | 25,00 € | 0,08 € |
The possible charge is calculated from the crossing time and the maximum possible charge current, but can of course vary somewhat. The cost per kWh is calculated by dividing the cost of the booked charge by the possible charge per crossing. Deviations are also possible here.
Current discussions about electric car ban to Havila “ferries”.
First of all, it should be noted that this is a great exception. With all major shipping companies you can take your electric car to ferry without any problems and sometimes even charge it during the crossing. The Norwegian shipping company Havila Kystruten is an exception here. The shipping company currently prohibits the carriage of electric vehicles. However, Havila is not a real ferry company, but rather serves the Norwegian Post as a cruise company. On Havila’s ships there is also only space for 9 cars each and the transport is only possible to route Bergen-Kirkenes and back.
A second, so-called “car ferry” from Höegh Autoliners, was also reported to transport only new vehicles. This is correct to the extent that this is a pure cargo ship for car transports, so-called car carriers. So, again, you can not talk about a normal ferry and this does not affect your trip with the electric car and the ferry in any case.
Book ferry with electric car
Book your ferry with electric car online as usual and without restrictions using the booking form below.
Conclusion
In summary, taking an electric car to a ferry is not a problem and is a great way to travel longer distances while protecting the environment. However, it is important to plan the booking and preparation carefully to ensure a safe and smooth crossing. By finding out about booking conditions, charging infrastructure on board the ferry, and charging infrastructure at your destination, you can ensure that you have a successful trip with your electric car.
How do you feel about this issue?
Are you taking your electric car on the ferry this year?
What kind of experience have you had so far with an electric car to ferry?
Write us your experiences, opinions and plans in the comments.
