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We’ve got electric buses, we ride electric bikes – now it’s time to welcome electric ferries. In March 2025, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers will launch the UK's first fully electric cross-river passenger ferry, named ‘Orbit Clipper’, here in London.
The vessel is under construction on the Isle of Wight right now, but once finished, it’ll operate between Canary Wharf on the north side of the Thames and Rotherhithe on the south.
Orbit Clipper will be able to carry 150 passengers and 100 bikes. It will cross the river every 10 minutes on weekdays and every 15 minutes on weekends, replacing the existing cross-river ferry service.
Uber already runs three hybrid boats across the Thames (fueled by a mix of battery power and biofuel-powered engines). The new ferry is part of the company’s mission to reduce carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2035 and operate at net-zero by 2050.
Alongside the new ferry, there will be a new pier at Rotherithe and a pier extension at Canary Wharf. The design of the former includes a gentle gradient to make ferries more accessible for cyclists and people with restricted mobility.
Sean Collins, co-founder and CEO of Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, said: ‘It’s a real British success story. All of our new boats are proudly built in the UK using the latest green technology at Wight Shipyard Co on the Isle of Wight. This new vessel will launch within our 25th year of operation and it reaffirms our investment in both the local Isle of Wight economy and in London.
‘The Thames is the lifeblood of our great capital and it’s our ambition to continue to push for further progression along the river - we’re calling upon London’s maritime businesses and government bodies to collaborate and ensure a greener future for all.’
Here’s a sneak peak at an artist’s impression of the vessel:
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