Maid of the Mist

Since 2020 about 1.2 million visitors per year experience the spectacular falls on the border of the United States and Canada up close on the two Maid of the Mist all-electric catamaran ferries. The two ferries, James V. Glynn and Nikola Tesla, each with a capacity of 600 passengers, are powered by a pair of battery packs providing 316 kWh total capacity divided across the two catamaran hulls, offering a level of redundancy that helps to safeguard operations.

The batteries allow the electric propulsion motors to reach a combined output of up to 400 kW (563 HP), with the power distribution controlled by ABB’s Power and Energy Management System. They are re-charged using locally produced hydroelectricity – ensuring that the energy cycle for the operation of the Maid of the Mist ferries is entirely emissions-free – in a process that takes just seven minutes during disembarkation and boarding. Each tour lasts 20 minutes, with departures, on average, every 15 minutes.

And the seven-minute charge provides an energy boost to enable the vessel’s dual electric propulsion motors to maintain their total output of 400 kW. Each trip consumes about 38 kWh. The batteries are charged up to 100 percent overnight and still have 80 percent capacity at the end of the working day.

With the electric ferries, passengers can experience one of the wonders of the natural world with 600,000 gallons of water crashing down around the boat every second, undisturbed by exhaust fumes, engine noise or vibrations. The catamaran design helps to minimize wave-induced motion compared to a single-hull vessel. The two vessels are the first battery powered zero-emission vessels built in the United States.

And for an extra bit of trivia, Niagara Falls is actually the collective name for three waterfalls—the Horseshoe Falls, the Bridal Veil Falls and the American Falls.

Key facts:

• Vessels recharge batteries in 7 minutes
• run purely on sustainable hydroelectric power
• Batteries still have 80 percent capacity at the end of the day

Discover more about ABB powering the Maid of the Mist all-electric ferries: 

• Powered by waterfalls, enabled by ABB
• ABB takes Maid of the Mist to zero-emissions future

More fascinating facts you may not know