Earlier today (05/05), the all-new electric community boat, Electra, was craned into the Grand Union Canal just south of Milton Keynes.
Commissioned by the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust, Electra will be based at Campbell Wharf.
It will be manned by Trust volunteers that will run public trips and private charter cruises along the Grand Union Canal, giving residents and visitors a different view of Milton Keynes.
James Clifton from the B&MK Waterway Trust, explained that he was delighted to see the delicate operation successfully completed as he said: "Now that Electra is safely afloat, we can commence sea trials, so the crew can get used to handling her followed by cruises for friends and family, before she begins fare-paying cruises in July."
Owner of Colecraft Engineering Ltd, Gary Cole, spoke more about the timely importance of the electric boat as he said: "Although we have built over 30 trip boats since 2010, including two for Longleat Safari Park and twelve for the London Olympic Games, this is our very first all-electric boat.
"The demand for electrically-propelled boats is definitely growing. With the government’s commitment to ensuring all inland waterway vessels meet zero emissions by 2050, this is definitely the right way forward."
Based on a traditional 54’ long steel narrowboat hull, Electra is powered by a single 15kW electric motor (equivalent to 5 electric kettles), with 48 batteries fitted below decks and 24 solar panels on the roof. At 54 feet, Electra is twice as long as a London double-decker bus and is twice as heavy.
Subject to Covid-19 restrictions, trips are planned to run from July to December in 2021. These will offer something for everyone – from short eye-spy family cruises to Friday night bubbles and bites, relaxing days out in nature, mindfulness trips and walkers’ one-way hops.
Eventually, it is hoped that Electra could carry up to 4,000 passengers a year.
ElectraBoatMK needs volunteer cabin hosts now, for training in May/June and looking after our customers on board from July.
— ElectraBoatMK (@ElectraBoatMK) April 29, 2021
Can you help us?
A great opportunity to learn new skills and support the community, in a beautiful canal environment.
More info https://t.co/7cGl8YB7iI pic.twitter.com/om8mjoSgim
Currently, more volunteers are needed to man the boat, both onboard and ashore. If this would interest you and you like some further information, please click here.
