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"E-Spatz" is Inland Vessel of the Year

"E-Spatz" is Inland Vessel of the Year

The first WSV workboat with purely battery-electric drive wins prestigious award

Mülheim an der Ruhr / Lutherstadt Wittenberg, 04.03.2024 – The Spatz, the tried-and-tested working vessel of the German Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration, was launched in August 2023 as an electrified version with a battery storage system from TESVOLT. It has now been awarded the prestigious title of "Inland Vessel of the Year" by the Hansa editorial team. The E-Spatz is the first working vessel of its kind to have a purely battery-electric drive and represents a milestone on the road to emission-free inland shipping.

One load lasts for three days

The E-Spatz has been jointly developed in recent years by the German Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSV) and the Bolle shipyard. The innovative electronics of the E-Spatz were provided by the companies Kadlec & Brödlin, Jastram and TESVOLT. 

The workboat with the innovative drive will ensure traffic safety on the rivers and canals of the West German canal network. Its tasks include construction and maintenance work on the waterways as well as, for example, sounding work. Unlike its diesel-powered predecessor, the E-Spatz is powered exclusively by two electric motors with 80 kW (109 hp) each.

TESVOLT supplied the battery storage system with a total capacity of 980 kilowatt hours (kWh). Seven water-cooled battery modules, each with a capacity of 10 kWh, are located in 14 racks. Each of the 98 modules is constantly monitored by the battery management system. This means that there is always clarity about the temperature or charge and health status of the installed cells. The batteries are charged via a connection point for shore power cables located at the rear of the E-Spatz with a maximum output of 125 amps (A). Charging usually takes place at night. Depending on the type of work, the E-Spatz can be operated for up to three days on one battery charge.

Active for clean waters and climate protection

Michael Miebach, Business Development Manager Maritime Solutions at TESVOLT: "The 'Barge of the Year' award not only recognises the technological achievements of the E-Spatz, but also the commitment and cooperation of all the companies involved and the WSV in this pioneering project. There is no alternative to the electrification of shipping on the way to cleaner waters and the reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions. As TESVOLT, we are actively driving the transition to a more environmentally conscious and sustainable maritime industry."

Starting signal for forward-looking fleet

With over 600 ships, the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration is the largest inland shipping company in Germany. The WSV currently operates around 130 Spatz vessels alone, which are to be equipped with low-emission drives in the future after the E-Spatz pilot has been trialled. The electrification that has now begun is the starting signal for a pioneering generation of environmentally friendly ships.

 

About TESVOLT AG - Maritime Solutions: With its Maritime Solutions division, TESVOLT AG is a leading provider of innovative energy storage solutions for the maritime industry. The company develops advanced lithium-ion battery systems for an emission-free future in the shipping industry. More information: www.tesvolt-maritime.com 

image-gallery /_media/_processed_/a1/eb/a5/E-Spatz_Muelheim_Quelle_TESVOLT_4909_1920x1080.jpg Now honoured with an award: The first E-Spatz, named "Mülheim", shown here at the ship's christening in February 2024 (Source: TESVOLT)
Now honoured with an award: The first E-Spatz, named "Mülheim", shown here at the ship's christening in February 2024 (Source: TESVOLT) Download
image-gallery /_media/_processed_/d2/05/b4/E-Spatz-in-der-Werft_Quelle_Schiffswerft_Bolle_4905_1920x1080.jpg The E-Spatz shortly before completion at the Bolle shipyard. (Source: Schiffswerft Bolle)
The E-Spatz shortly before completion at the Bolle shipyard. (Source: Schiffswerft Bolle) Download
image-gallery /_media/_processed_/52/e1/97/Kilian_Hoffmann_Quelle_TESVOLT_4910_1920x1080.jpg Kilian Hoffmann, Business Development Manager Maritime Solutions at TESVOLT
Kilian Hoffmann, Business Development Manager Maritime Solutions at TESVOLT Download
image-gallery /_media/_processed_/1b/86/9d/Vertragsunterzeichnung_2021_TESVOLT_Jastram_KadlecBroedlin_4917_1920x1080.jpg Contract signing for cooperation on the E-Spatz marine propulsion system, autumn 2021 (from left): Niels Lange (Jastram), Kilian Hoffmann (TESVOLT) and Christian Kadlec (Kadlec & Brödlin) (Source: Kadlec & Brödlin) Signing of the contract for cooperation on the E-Spatz ship propulsion system, "Shipping Technics Logistics" trade fair, autumn 2021 (from left): Niels Lange (Managing Director, Jastram), Kilian Hoffmann (Business Development Manager, TESVOLT) and Christian Kadlec (Managing Director, Kadlec & Brödlin) (Source: Kadlec & Brödlin)
Contract signing for cooperation on the E-Spatz marine propulsion system, autumn 2021 (from left): Niels Lange (Jastram), Kilian Hoffmann (TESVOLT) and Christian Kadlec (Kadlec & Brödlin) (Source: Kadlec & Brödlin) Download
image-gallery /_media/_processed_/52/fa/c4/TESVOLT_Maritime_Solutions_4912_1920x1080.jpg TESVOLT Maritime Solutions is actively driving the transition to a climate-friendly maritime industry. (Source: TESVOLT)
TESVOLT Maritime Solutions is actively driving the transition to a climate-friendly maritime industry. (Source: TESVOLT) Download
image-gallery /_media/_processed_/1a/24/cb/TESVOLT_Gigafactory_Wittenberg_4918_1920x1080.jpg TESVOLT's administration building and Gigafactory at the Lutherstadt Wittenberg site. (Source: TESVOLT)
TESVOLT's administration building and Gigafactory at the Lutherstadt Wittenberg site. (Source: TESVOLT) Download

About TESVOLT

TESVOLT AG is a leading European full-service provider of innovative energy storage system solutions for commerce and industry. We are driving the energy transition and empowering companies with free, decentralised energy use and profitable electricity trading. We combine advanced battery storage technology with intelligent software and a flexible retail strategy - for maximum cost efficiency and data security made in Germany. Our solutions liberate companies from fossil fuels and economic constraints. We manufacture the commercial storage system solutions in series production in a carbon-neutral gigafactory at our headquarters in Lutherstadt Wittenberg.

TESVOLT was founded in 2014. The group includes the subsidiary TESVOLT Energy GmbH, which enables profitable energy trading for commerce and industry, and the joint venture TESVOLT OCEAN GmbH, which provides maritime shipping companies with high-performance battery storage solutions for challenging conditions at sea.

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