Norwegian ferry operator Havila Kystruten has banned all types of electrified cars, including electric, hybrid and hydrogen fueled vehicles.
Despite the fact that Norway is a pioneer in the introduction of this type of vehicle, increasing its share in the overall market statistics every year (in 2022, 79% of the new cars sold were BEVs), this unexpected decision was made by drawing conclusions from last year’s Felicity Ace accident, which almost 4,000 cars caught fire off the Azores.
The risk analysis concluded that if such a car were to catch fire, a particularly expensive rescue operation would be required, and, unlike a conventional car on fire, the crew could not effectively fight it, and the passengers would be at risk. Therefore, Havila Kystruten no longer transports cars with electric motors on its ferries. “Electric, hybrid and hydrogen cars are prohibited on board,” according to the Q&A section of their portal, according to German publication 24auto.de.
Let us remind you that the Felicity Ace, which transported the new Volkswagen cars, is now lying at the bottom of the ocean with all its cargo, and although the official reasons for the ship’s fire have not been established, it is assumed that the fire accident was caused by one of the electric cars that were in the carrier’s hold.
The Felicity Ace was en route from Volkswagen’s largest new car loading port in Emden, Germany to the United States. According to various reports, the cargo of the transport ship included approximately 1117 Porsches, 523 Volkswagens, 1846 Audis, 190 Bentleys and 85 Lamborghinis.
It is strictly forbidden to use, copy or reproduce the materials published on iAuto.lv in other Internet portals, mass media or otherwise deal with the materials published on iAuto.lv without receiving written permission from EON SIA.
