AI public transport platform to support electric ferries in Hamburg

“With Optibus, we have the technology needed to roll out Hamburg’s electric ferry fleet and make it one of the region’s leading passenger maritime networks,” said Wolfgang Mularzyk, IT project manager at Hadag.

Just like electric buses, electric ferries introduce new operational challenges: complex scheduling, high upfront costs, fluctuating electricity prices, battery limitations, and energy grid constraints, especially on islands or older harbours. Efficient planning is key to navigating these challenges. 

Optibus’ Electric Vehicle (EV) Management software is used to deploy and operate electric bus fleets around the world, including some of the largest EV fleets in the Americas and Europe. Now, Optibus is bringing that expertise to the passenger ferry sector.

“With Optibus, we have the technology needed to roll out Hamburg’s electric ferry fleet and make it one of the region’s leading passenger maritime networks” 

Hadag reports it manages Hamburg’s ferry routes, transporting 10 million passengers annually across 330,000 nautical miles, 365 days a year. To reduce emissions, Hadag is converting its full fleet to 100 per cent zero-emissions. Three electric ferries were delivered in 2024 and more are on the way. 

To support this transition, Hadag will:

• Use Optibus’ EV Management software to plan and optimise charging and scheduling, accounting for battery profiles, range, energy demand, costs, charging time and location, and more
• Deploy Optibus’ Passenger Information offerings to improve ferry service updates via digital signage and mobile apps, resulting in a more reliable passenger experience. 

“Electric ferries are vital for sustainable public transport,” said Amos Haggiag, CEO and co-founder of Optibus. “We’re proud to expand our offerings into maritime transit, ensuring more fleet operators have the cutting-edge tools needed to support successful EV deployments.”