The next ferry you take is likely to be electric. The industry, which transports billions of passengers and millions of vehicles every year, is heading toward large-scale electrification by the early 2030s, according to a May 2025 article in CleanTechnica.

Worldwide, 70% of ferries on order will have electric drivetrains, according to CleanTechnica. Existing vessels are often being retrofitted for electric propulsion as well. While hybrid-electric ferries are in use in some regions, fully electric ferries are being built as battery capacities improve. Electric ferries offer quieter operation, smoother acceleration and lack diesel exhaust odors, CleanTechnica said.

Current diesel ferries generate significant amounts of greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollution, according to Sinay, which provides maritime data. With increasing emission standards around the world—from the International Maritime Organization and international agreements such as the Paris Accords—ferry operators face regulatory penalties and higher operating costs if they fail to decarbonize.

Electric ferries will improve their resiliency, require less maintenance and save millions in fuel costs, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). Washington State Ferries (WSF) is the largest ferry system in the United States and the biggest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions among Washington state agencies, producing approximately 19 million gallons of diesel fuel to support 20 million passengers annually, according to WSDOT. WSDOT is working to rebuild, modernize and electrify its ferry fleet by 2040. WSF plans to convert six existing vessels to hybrid-electric power, build 16 new hybrid-electric vessels and add shore charging to 16 terminals.

This kind of major multiyear, multibillion-dollar project is occurring around the world. Electrifying the industry requires higher upfront investment—including charging infrastructure on the vessels, charging infrastructure on docks and possible upgrades to electric grids—but electric ferries are already delivering considerable operational savings, CleanTechnica shared.

Currently, there are over 200 electric ferries running out of 15,400 in operation worldwide, according to CleanTechnica.

China has over 190 battery electric ships in its inland waterways, with 60 more planned to be built, according to a 2023 press release in China Classification Society, a state-owned enterprise that provides classification services for ships and offshore facilities. China also boasts the largest fully electric ferry, called the China Zorrilla, a 130-meter ship that can carry 2,100 passengers and 225 vehicles, according to another CleanTechnica article. The China Zorrilla has a 40-megawatt-hour (MWh) battery and uses electric waterjets.

China also leads on overall electrification of shipping, CleanTechnica said. The country operates twin 700-unit container ships that travel 1,000-km routes along the Yangtze River and are powered by containerized batteries in the ports. Similar dockside charging infrastructure is being built in Canada and elsewhere.

Norway is now operating 70 electric ferries. Denmark and Sweden also have major electric ferry projects in the works, which aim to embed electric propulsion into their maritime transport strategies.