The compact ferry can carry 32 passengers through the Neris River. But some say it’s quicker to walk.
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Europe’s public transport has become electrified in recent years.
In European cities with harbours and canals, new high-tech electric ferries have wowed the residents and visitors. For example, Stockholm’s flying ferry glides on the surface of the water in the capital city’s archipelago and is faster than its diesel peer.
Last month, Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius, introduced fully electric passenger boats into its scheduled river transport network, claiming the service to be the first of its kind in Europe.
While there are electric ferries sailing through seas and canals across Europe, such as the Copenhagen harbour buses, Lithuania’s Lašiša shuttles across its historic river, Neris.
Hamburg’s HADAG goes through the Elbe river but it is partially electric, while Budapest’s Ferry D14 on the river Danube operates on diesel.
“We are very proud of this project because we are looking in Europe, and nobody else has done this project,” said Loreta Levulytė-Staškevičienė, the CEO of JUDU, the public transport and mobility services company for Vilnius.
“So we are very thankful for the boat company that built the boats. And it obviously was a big responsibility for the city and for the citizens to say that we would have made a boat in six or seven months,” Levulytė-Staškevičienė said.
The compact ferry can carry up to 32 passengers and operates by cutting through the water, a method considered more economical than other electric vessels that plane on the water's surface, according to the city’s public transport department.
Shuttling across the Neris River, the route links cultural landmarks, business districts, and residential areas.
The city’s mayor, Valdas Benkunskas, hopes this new initiative will help bring life to the river.
“Maybe every day we can pass by the river, but we never think about how beautiful and amazing it is. So our boat project, I believe, will help to do that,” he added.
Green initiative
Vilnius has been named as Europe's Green Capital for 2025 by the European Commission.
Lašiša’s carbon footprint is estimated at 11 to 16 grams CO₂ per passenger kilometre. This is lower than the 20 to 40 grams produced by a typical diesel bus in Vilnius, depending on occupancy.
The boats also consume less energy and have a bigger range.
Tickets can be bought through the same mobile app used for buses and trams. A 90-minute single journey costs €3 when purchased in advance, or €4 on board.
Some residents welcome the service as a new way of experiencing their city.
“If you live in the centre, in this area, and you work here, I guess, yes (electric boats would be a good thing). Especially, maybe a woman would like it, like a romantic way to go to work, or to clear your mind after work. I think it will be very cool.”Polina Ruginiene, Vilnius resident, said.
Scepticism
Others are more cautious. Outgoing Environment Minister Povilas Poderskis said officials should be transparent about the real environmental savings.
“If we're saying that it's public transportation, but it's slower than walking… we're not being honest,” said Poderskis, Lithuania’s environment minister.
“For now, I think it's a good experiment, and I like experiments. So I'm rooting for it to work, but I'm a bit sceptical,” he added.
According to JUDU, the boat cruises at a speed of 7.5 km/h, which allows for stable and safe sailing, avoiding major waves.
“The speed of the boat is higher than that of similar types of water vehicles in other European cities, which have an average speed of around 5 km/h,” Vilnius’s transport department wrote in a statement.
The city plans to purchase two more boats, which are currently being built in Latvia.
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