Electrified Marina completes electric ferry for the Charles River

Electrified Marina has finished the electric powertrain for Wada Hoppah’s 35-foot wakeless ferry, Just Get On, which entered the Charles River in July as the first commercial ferry there in about 100 years. Passenger service is targeted for summer 2026, pending state permits and final testing.

Why it matters: - The Charles River is getting its first commercial ferry service in about 100 years. - The project shows how fully electric propulsion can work on waterways with shallow water, wake limits and restrictions on combustion engines. - Wada Hoppah is targeting passenger service between Watertown and Beacon Hill, which could add a new transit option for river travel in Massachusetts.

What happened: - Electrified Marina completed the full electric powertrain installation for Just Get On, a 35-foot wakeless passenger ferry built by Massachusetts venture Wada Hoppah. - The vessel entered the water in July and is now undergoing systems testing. - Passenger service is planned for summer 2026, pending permits from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation for docking access and river operation. - The ferry is designed to carry 20 passengers and make the trip between Watertown and Beacon Hill in about 40 minutes. - Estimated fare is $12 to $18.

The details: - Electrified Marina installed two 48-volt Electric Yacht QuietTorque 15.0 LC electric motors. - The motors were matched to a custom hull built by Concord boat builder Inriver. - The hull is designed to draw 14 inches of water to clear shallow sections of the Charles River. - The ferry is built to operate without a wake, which was required for river approval. - The wakeless design is intended to reduce disturbance to rowing crews and limit shoreline erosion. - The vessel runs on battery power alone. - Other ferries operating in the region use hybrid systems. - Drew Rollert, a software engineer and founder of Wada Hoppah, developed the concept after identifying an unused century-old public dock on the river. - Rollert spent about three years securing approvals from city officials and roughly 18 months working with Inriver on the vessel’s design and construction. - The project received a Gussie Award in 2024 in the category Electric Commercial Passenger Vessels: In Development. - Rollert chose Electrified Marina after finding the company through its work in electric marine propulsion. - Electrified Marina also completed an electric repower of Tempe Boat Cruisin' in Tempe, Arizona. - The company works on direct sales and repower projects for vessels of all sizes facing shallow water, wake restrictions and limits on combustion engines.

Between the lines: - The Charles River project is a proof point for electric ferries in regulated urban waterways, not just a one-off demonstration. - The need for permits and marine classification shows the service still depends on regulatory clearance before passengers can board. - Wada Hoppah’s plan to add more vessels suggests the ferry could expand beyond a prototype if testing goes well. - Electrified Marina is using the project to position its system as a fit for specialized marine routes where conventional propulsion is harder to deploy. - Robert Rubano, service tech at Electrified Marina, said the installation shows fully electric propulsion is viable for commercial passenger service where combustion engines are restricted. - Drew Rollert said Wada Hoppah is teaming up with Electrified Marina to bring the next major change in maritime passenger transportation to Massachusetts and the U.S.

What's next: - Wada Hoppah will keep testing Just Get On before starting service. - Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation permits are still needed for docking access and river operation. - Wada Hoppah plans to expand with additional vessels after the prototype completes testing and marine classification. - Passenger service remains targeted for summer 2026.

The bottom line: - Electrified Marina has delivered the electric heart of a ferry that could bring passenger service back to the Charles River after a century-long gap.