Tidal deploys mobile battery charging

Marine electrification specialist Tidal Transit has deployed Fellten’s Charge Qube battery energy storage system to provide onshore charging for e-Ginny, its landmark retrofit electric crew transfer vessel.

The deployment marks a significant step in Tidal Transit’s efforts to accelerate the transition away from diesel across offshore wind operations and maintenance fleets, addressing one of the sector’s key barriers: limited grid capacity at ports and docks.

“One of the biggest challenges facing marine decarbonisation is that electric vessel technology is advancing faster than the supporting infrastructure onshore. If we’re serious about reduced fossil fuel dependence and decarbonising offshore wind logistics and wider maritime operations, we need practical charging solutions that work now, not years down the line,” said Leo Hambro, co-founder and chief executive at Tidal Transit.

Fellten’s Charge Qube technology was originally developed for applications where reliable, high-power access is critical, including EV fleet depots, automotive programmes, healthcare and emergency services. The system is now being adapted for maritime applications as demand for vessel charging increasingly outpaces available onshore grid infrastructure.

Tidal Transit selected the CQ450 model, which provides 450kWh of mobile electricity storage in a modular battery system that can be transported and deployed where charging capacity is required. It can deliver ultra-rapid charging of up to 240kW, supporting e-Ginny while the vessel is docked.

The wider Charge Qube range extends from the 160kWh CQ160 to Fellten’s planned 1MWh flagship system. Its mobile configuration provides an alternative to waiting for permanent grid upgrades, potentially allowing ports and vessel operators to introduce high-power charging more quickly.

Hambro said the system provides the flexibility required to support electric and hybrid vessels despite local grid constraints.

“Fellten’s Charge Qube gives us exactly that. It provides the flexible, high-power system to support overnight charging capability we need for e-Ginny and other electric and hybrid vessels without being limited by local grid constraints,” he added.

Mike Ellenthorpe, general manager at Fellten, said e-Ginny demonstrates how mobile charging can support real-world marine electrification and provide a blueprint for wider fleet adoption.

Tidal Transit’s e-Ginny project involved converting the diesel-powered Ginny Louise into a fully electric CTV, alongside developing the charging infrastructure needed to support offshore operations.