ABB Powers Tourists to the Niagara Falls with First US Built All-Electric Vessels
3.5.2019 18:45:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release
Niagara Falls tour operator Maid of the Mist orders two new passenger vessels sailing on pure electric power, enabled by ABB’s technology
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190503005349/en/
Maid of the Mist new passenger vessels sailing on pure electric power, enabled by ABB's technology (Photo: Business Wire)
Visitors to the iconic Niagara Falls will soon be able to experience one of the US’s top landmarks emission-free. Two new Maid of the Mist passenger vessels will be powered entirely by high-capacity battery packs, becoming the first all-electric vessels ever built in the US.
The new vessels will benefit from ABB’s zero-emission technology when they start operating later this year, allowing guests to experience Niagara Falls undisturbed by engine noise, vibration or exhaust fumes from a conventional diesel engine.
Maid of the Mist, one of North America’s oldest tourist attractions, operates from April through to the first week of November, with boats departing for the base of Niagara Falls every 30 minutes, with an estimated 1.6 million guests on board annually.
“We are thrilled to be the US’s first vessel owner to add all-electric ferries to our fleet,” said Christopher M. Glynn, president of Maid of the Mist Corp. “We have chosen ABB to support us in our journey towards more sustainable operation based on their unparalleled experience in marine system integration, as well as efficient and innovative technologies for sustainable transportation.”
“Maid of the Mist’s decisive move towards e-mobility signals a new era in the future of transportation and complements ABB’s commitment to power the world without consuming the earth,” said Peter Terwiesch, President of the Industrial Automation business at ABB, which offers solutions for a wide range of industries, including marine. “Reducing emissions at Niagara Falls is not only important for the natural landmark, but also proves that the technologies enabling sustainable mobility are already available today.”
Each of the vessels will be powered by a pair of battery packs with a total capacity of 316 kWh, split evenly between two catamaran hulls. Having two fully independent power systems on board will increase the resilience of operations by creating a redundancy.
The vessels will charge between every trip while passengers disembark and board. Shoreside charging will only take seven minutes, allowing the batteries to power the electric propulsion motors capable of a total 400 kW (563 HP) output. The power setup will be controlled by ABB’s integrated Power and Energy Management System (PEMS), which will optimize the energy use on board.
The batteries will be charged using hydropower – the largest single renewable energy source for electricity generation in the US, which accounts for 7 percent of the country’s total utility-scale electricity generation. The use of locally produced renewable power will make the energy cycle for the operation of the new Maid of the Mist vessels entirely emission-free.
Sustainable transportation has a crucial role in the fight against climate change, with shipping accounting for 2 to 3 percent of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions. The International Maritime Organization, a United Nations agency responsible for regulating shipping, has set a global target to cut annual emissions by at least 50 percent by 2050 from 2008 levels.
In addition to integrating the ship-to-shore battery charging connection, ABB will supply the Maid of the Mist newbuilding project with switchboards, drives and the integrated control system, as well as the ABB Ability™ Marine Remote Diagnostic System for remote equipment monitoring and predictive maintenance. ABB Ability™ is ABB’s leading offering of digital solutions and services.
To watch the video, click here.
ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a pioneering technology leader with a comprehensive offering for digital industries. With a history of innovation spanning more than 130 years, ABB is today a leader in digital industries with four customer-focused, globally leading businesses: Electrification, Industrial Automation, Motion, and Robotics & Discrete Automation, supported by its common ABB Ability™ digital platform. ABB’s market leading Power Grids business will be divested to Hitachi in 2020. ABB operates in more than 100 countries with about 147,000 employees. www.abb.com
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190503005349/en/
Contact information
ABB Ltd
Affolternstrasse 44
8050 Zurich
Switzerland
Media
Relations
Phone: +41 43 317 71 11
Email: media.relations@ch.abb.com
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Datavault AI and Biochar Now Combine Insured Carbon Removal Credits with Patented Tokenization Technology9.11.2026 13:45:00 EET | Press release
Datavault AI Inc. (“Datavault” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: DVLT), today announced a global strategic collaboration with Biochar Now to expand the distribution of verified, insured carbon removal credits through Datavault’s patented tokenization technology and global marketing and distribution capabilities. The partnership is designed to connect Biochar Now’s carbon removal credits with a broader network of buyers while strengthening transparency, traceability and accountability in the carbon markets. Under the agreement, Datavault AI will provide access to its carbon credit tokenization technology, including U.S. Patent No. 12,443,977 and related pending applications. It will also support worldwide demand generation, buyer development, marketing and distribution of eligible Biochar Now carbon credits, while also pursuing listings with existing and future partner exchange platforms. Biochar Now will pay Datavault AI for its technology and services; specific financial terms were not discl
NIQ to Present at 2026 J.P. Morgan Ultimate Services Investor Conference9.11.2026 13:45:00 EET | Press release
NielsenIQ (NYSE: NIQ) (the “Company”, or “NIQ”), a leading global consumer intelligence company, today announced that Jim Peck, Chairman and CEO, and Mike Burwell, CFO will participate in a fireside chat at the J.P. Morgan Ultimate Services Investor Conference on Tuesday, November 17, 2026 at 2:40 pm ET. A live webcast will be available on the NIQ investor relations website at https://investors.nielseniq.com. A replay will also be available on the Company's website following the conclusion of the presentation. About NielsenIQ NielsenIQ (NYSE: NIQ) is a leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete understanding of consumer buying behavior. Combining an unmatched global data footprint, granular consumer and retail measurement, and decades of AI modeling expertise, NIQ helps companies turn complex data into confident action. With operations in more than 90 countries covering approximately 82% of the world’s population and more than $7.4 trillion in consumer spend, N
Compass Pathways Completes COMP360 Psilocybin New Drug Application to U.S. FDA for Treatment-Resistant Depression9.11.2026 13:30:00 EET | Press release
Compass Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS), a biotechnology company dedicated to unlocking urgently needed new treatment options in mental health care, today announced the Company completed its submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. FDA for COMP360 psilocybin, its investigational synthetic, proprietary formulation of psilocybin, for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). "People living with treatment-resistant depression have gone too long experiencing disproportionate suffering, despite years of trying available treatment options without meaningful relief. The completion of our NDA submission reflects years of perseverance and commitment by patients, families, advocates, researchers and healthcare providers who have worked alongside us toward the shared goal of bringing new treatment options to this community,” said Kabir Nath, Chief Executive Officer of Compass Pathways. “Compass is leading the development of this new class of medicines with rigor and discipline, successfully
Semiconductor Companies Get Tough on AI Investment, but Measuring Returns Remains a Challenge9.11.2026 13:03:00 EET | Press release
HTEC, the global AI technology and engineering leader, today released its research on the semiconductor sector, which reveals that the sector is relatively advanced in adopting AI but faces a more difficult challenge: proving that technical improvements translate into measurable business value. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261109039341/en/ HTEC, the global AI technology and engineering leader, today released its research on the semiconductor sector, which reveals that the sector is relatively advanced in adopting AI but faces a more difficult challenge: proving that technical improvements translate into measurable business value. Nearly half (48%) of semiconductor respondents describe their organizations as scaling AI or already AI-native, compared with 44% across the overall sample. Yet AI investment growth is broadly in line with the wider market, with 78% reporting increased investment over the past year
GoFundMe Surpasses $50 Billion Raised, Celebrating the People Powering a Global Movement of Help9.11.2026 13:00:00 EET | Press release
GoFundMe today announced that its global community has surpassed $50 billion raised to help individuals and nonprofits around the world. More than 200 million people have donated through GoFundMe, and nearly 40% have given more than once, reflecting the extraordinary scale of people showing up for one another – and continuing to come back to help. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261109255455/en/ Celebrating $50B raised on GoFundMe with The Kind 50. From showing up for a friend in need to mobilizing entire communities, The Kind 50 celebrates people and organizations whose acts of kindness – on and off GoFundMe – made an impact over the past year and inspired others to help. To mark the milestone, GoFundMe is introducing The Kind 50, a celebration of the internet’s kindest people. The inaugural list features 50 stories of individuals and nonprofits who saw a need, showed up, and brought others together to help.
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom