Kochi Water Metro – first vessel in operation
The Kochi Water Metro project which was initiated about a year ago has now finalized its first delivery of 23 to come. On the 31st of December, the first electric vessel running on Echandia LTO-batteries was delivered.
The first installment of 23 vessels being built at the Cochin Shipyard under the Kochi Water Metro are now handed over from the shipyard to the operator KMRL. During the well visited event. Madhmita Behra named the first boat "Muziris". Of the 23 to be delivered, five boats are under construction and will be handed over to KMRL in a couple of months KMRL said in a press release.
https://twitter.com/MetroRailKochi/status/1476937610752712715
Groundbreaking project - environmentally friendly public transport
Kochi Water Metro is an interesting and groundbreaking project, with integrated rail and water transport to improve connectivity for the residents of Kochi. The traffic is monitored from an operating control centre at the Vytilla hub, and is equipped with an automatic location system that continuously monitor the position of the vessels.
When completed the operation will consist of 78 boats connecting 38 terminals over a 76 kilometers long route. Each vessel can carry a total of 100 passengers.
This is a world first; where a centrally controlled integrated fleet of vessels is being powered by batteries. The vessels are fully charged in 10-15 minutes while the passengers are boarding or leaving the vessel. The charging solution is located in floating pontoon jetties at select locations along the route.
The energy solution
Echandia have been involved in the project to deliver the energy storage solution (ESS). The installation on the Kochi Water Metro vessels is a lithium-titanium oxide-based battery (LTO). This technology is able to deliver supercharging capabilities and comes with inherent safety features, which is paramount in any public transportation. A more detailed case of the battery solution on the Kochi Water Metro is found here and an in depth interview with general manager Sajan P. John about the evaluation and process of choosing Echandia LTO can be found here.
Here's a video of the first vessel in operation
https://twitter.com/anandans76/status/1476891141895176198?s=21
ABOUT ECHANDIA
Echandia is a market-leading supplier of advanced maritime battery systems, delivering safe and resilient energy solutions for demanding vessel operations. Designed in Scandinavia and built on proven LTO technology, our systems enable fast charging, smooth zero-emission performance, and long service life in harsh marine environments. Headquartered in Sweden, with offices in North America, the UK, Singapore, China, and Denmark, we serve customers across the globe and are trusted by shipbuilders and operators for our compact footprint, high reliability, and minimal degradation over time. To date, we have sold more than 115 systems for electrification projects across the marine industry. By reducing fuel consumption and lowering operating costs, our solutions support sustainable shipping and long-term economic efficiency, helping accelerate the maritime industry’s transition to zero-emission operations.
MEDIA CONTACT
Johan Winlund, Head of Communication & PR at Echandia
+46 76 117 55 41 • johan.winlund@echandia.com
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