en.Wedoany.com Reported - Swedish maritime battery supplier Echandia has secured its first contract to supply the Core battery system for Incat Tasmania's new hybrid-electric catamaran.
The 78-meter vessel, designed for low-emission operation, is a next-generation product in Incat's electric ferry series. It draws on construction experience from Hull 096 (China Zorrilla), the world's largest pure battery-powered ship, which is soon to be delivered to South American operator Buquebus.
Incat stated that the 78-meter vessel offers multiple power options, including pure electric, hybrid, or generator-assisted modes, providing high flexibility for operators advancing their clean energy transition. The ship is designed to replace first-generation high-speed vessels that have been in service for 35 years, offering a future-proof solution for operators requiring sustainable, fast, and efficient transport.
The design and construction of the vessel prioritize maximum deployment flexibility while significantly reducing operating costs, enabling operators to move away from fossil fuels in the most practical and cost-effective manner. The ship can carry up to 650 passengers and 120 cars, with a maximum speed of 28 knots.
The vessel can operate in various power modes, including pure electric, hybrid, or generator-only operation, allowing operators to achieve zero-emission operation on short routes and in emission control areas while extending range on longer voyages. The ship will be available for bareboat or time charter from January 2027.
Incat Chief Technology Officer Stewart Wells stated that the vessel is designed as part of a product series, with flexibility and modularity at the core of the design to ensure it can serve multiple application scenarios throughout its design life. The team required a battery system capable of handling high power demands across different routes and frequent charging cycles, and the Echandia Core system meets this need.
The Echandia Core system is based on LTO (Lithium Titanate) chemistry, with extremely low degradation, ensuring stable performance throughout its lifecycle. Echandia noted that this characteristic allows for future expansion of battery capacity without significant performance differences between new and old modules.
Echandia Technical Sales Manager Felix Backgård pointed out that a vessel designed for high flexibility requires a battery system that keeps future options open. Since LTO chemistry degrades very little over time, there will be no performance mismatch between new and old modules when expanding capacity later. The Echandia Core is designed precisely for this lifecycle flexibility.
Echandia developed the Core system to lower one of the main barriers to wider adoption of LTO in the maritime sector: initial investment cost. Thanks to its long service life, minimal degradation, and high operational reliability, LTO is often highly competitive over its lifecycle, but upfront costs remain a hurdle for many vessel projects. The Echandia Core system reduces this barrier.
Compared to Echandia's previous battery systems, the Core system can reduce upfront costs by 30% while also reducing footprint by 30%, retaining the safety, longevity, and reliability required for demanding maritime operations. Echandia is headquartered in Sweden with offices in North America, the UK, Singapore, China, and Denmark.
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