Solar postal boat delivers first parcels in Berlin

Deutsche Post DHL put its first solar boat into operation on Thursday (October 6). The 10.5-meter-long and 2.5-meter-wide ship will be used to transport parcels between two package centers in Berlin’s Spandau district and the Westhafen port.
By installing solar modules on the ship’s roof, sufficient electricity can be generated for propulsion and on-board power. For times without sun, the energy is stored in batteries. The ship has a propulsion power of five kilowatts and can thus travel up to twelve kilometers per hour. With sunshine, the journey time is unlimited; without sunshine, the ship can travel for six to eight hours.
If the test operation is successful, Deutsche Post DHL intends to examine the extent to which the solar shipping fleet can be expanded. Likewise, the expansion of the transport route from Spandau via Westhafen to the districts of Neukölln and Mariendorf will be examined.
© PHOTON