The charger can charge an electric harbour craft in around three hours and allow it to operate up to 50 nautical miles.
Launched by Singapore maritime start-up Pyxis and SP Mobility, a subsidiary of national grid operator SP Group, the charging point at Marina South Pier features a 150 kilowatt direct current fast charger – similar to that of fast chargers for electric vehicles on land – and a cable management system that prevents the charging gun from dropping into the water.
For example, a full charge allows the Pyxis X Tron to complete four round trips between Marina South Pier and nearby anchorages that are more than 8km from the pier.To operate it, users must lower the charging cable onto the vessel for a crew member aboard to connect it to the socket on the vessel. Pyxis founder and chief executive Tommy Phun also said customers would be charged a per-kWh rate, based on the total amount of power transferred. He added that the tariff rates are still in the works but will be on a par with, or lower than, diesel options.
A worker plugging an electric cable into the charging port of Pyxis X Tron, a fully-electric passenger vessel, berthed at Marina South Pier, on April 8. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOOElsewhere, private electric harbour craft charging facilities are available on Pulau Bukom for electric ferries serving staff from energy company Shell.