Taking Your EV on a Ferry: What You Need to Know

Planning a road trip with your electric car? You might be wondering if you can take your EV on a ferry. The good news is, most ferry companies don’t have restrictions on bringing electric cars onboard.

Charging Your EV on a Ferry: Still a Work in Progress

While bringing your EV is usually fine, charging it while on a ferry is a bit trickier. It’s relatively uncommon right now. Stena Line, a major ferry operator, told us they have no restrictions on EVs, but charging facilities aren’t currently available on their Irish Sea routes.
They are, however, researching battery safety and trialing charging on board in other regions.

Safety First: Why Charging Restrictions Exist

You might be wondering why charging isn’t more widespread. It comes down to safety. EV batteries are more vulnerable to fire when charging, and a fire on board a ferry could be catastrophic. Ferry operators like Brittany Ferries and DFDS have, at times, restricted charging to minimize this risk.

“It is known that a fire in an electric car battery can flare up again, so extinguishing it completely can be a lot to expect from a ship’s crew who have only been on a few mandatory maritime fire safety courses,” said Alexander Kleiman, maritime research and development project manager at DBI Advanced Fire Engineering.

Firefighting Techniques for EV Fires at Sea

Fortunately, experts are working on solutions. The Confederation of Fire Protection Associations Europe (CFPA-Europe) and the DBI are researching and testing methods to tackle EV fires on ferries.

Testing involving the DBI and CFPA found that water mist can effectively limit the spread of fire, giving firefighters time to intervene. Smothering the fire with a heavy quartz-impregnated blanket is another strategy that might be effective, although it requires ample space between vehicles.

A Future of EV-Friendly Ferries

As EV technology advances and solid-state and lithium-iron phosphate batteries become more common, the risk of fires should decrease. We may also see changes to ferry deck layouts to allow for better fire containment in the future.

In the meantime, remember that most ferry companies don’t have restrictions on bringing your EV on board. When in doubt, always check with your specific ferry operator for any current policies or restrictions.

**Ready to plan your EV road trip and ferry journey? Research your options and book your passage today!**