As Vilnius basks in its Green Capital 2025 accolade, the newest initiative, a small fleet of fully electric boats, has been launched on the Neris River. The Lithuanian capital has become the first European city to integrate fully electric boats into its scheduled public river transport system.

The boats that ferry people up and down the Neris River operate by displacing water. This is considered more economical than other electric vessels because it cuts through or displaces water rather than other boats that plane on the water's surface. The broad, rounded hulls of displacement boats make them steady, and because they consume less energy, they have a bigger range. The ferry takes passengers past centuries-old architecture while contributing to Vilnius's modern reputation, being designated as Europe's Green Capital for 2025.

At the newly constructed terminal beside the iconic King Mindaugas Bridge, you’ll find maps displaying the route's strategic stops connecting key districts across the city. In the background looms Elektra, a striking statue by renowned sculptor Bolesław Bałzukiewicz. The route links cultural landmarks, business districts, and residential areas.

Loreta Levulytė-Staškevičienė, the CEO of JUDU, Vilnius’ transport department, says, “We are very proud of this project because we are looking in Europe, and nobody else so far did this project. So we are very thankful for our partners, for the boat company who built the boats. And it obviously was a big responsibility for the city and for the citizens to say that, yes, we will have made a boat in six or seven months.”

The total value of the contract for four electric boats and their servicing is €1.85 million, with each boat costing €450,000. So far, there are just two in the fleet, each boat carrying up to 32 passengers. The city plans to expand the fleet by purchasing an additional two boats in the future. They're currently being built in Latvia.

Digital ticketing allows passengers to purchase tickets through the same mobile app used for buses and trams. The comprehensive public transport network serves more than 500,000 passengers daily across over 60 bus routes and 18 trolleybus lines.

This article was provided by The Associated Press.