Fish Factor: First seagoing electric passenger vessel in the U.S. to launch in Juneau

The first seagoing electric powered passenger vessel in the U.S. is set to launch next summer in Juneau.

The E/V Tongass Rain is a 50 foot, 47 passenger catamaran designed for eco-education and whale watching tours. Its primary fuel source will be rain, delivered to the boat via Juneau’s hydroelectric power grid and stored in a bank of lithium batteries.

The more modern batteries are less than half the weight of a traditional lead acid battery, and they provide three times the power and charge three times as fast, said Bob Varness, president and manager of Tongass Rain Electric Cruise (TREC)....