Hyke: smart electric ferries transforming urban mobility

As cities grow denser, they are grappling with increasing congestion, pollution and limited space for land-based transport. Hyke believes it is critical to shift more transport back to the water, freeing up space on land and making waterfront locations more accessible to all.

Hyke is building the world’s first scalable, low-cost electric passenger vessel platform. The company will deliver sustainable, multipurpose urban transport that halves the cost and doubles the efficiency, shifting mobility from road to water to decongest cities through mass production.

The vessels are designed for urban cities and inland waterways, enabling efficient, zero-emission transport with minimal infrastructure requirements. Hyke’s 50-passenger ferries are optimised for frequent operations and can operate for up to 10 hours on a single charge, depending on route and conditions.

Charging is based on standard CCS technology, similar to electric cars, allowing operators to use widely available infrastructure without the need for complex shore-side installations.

The vessels are equipped with autonomy-ready systems that support assisted crossing, precision manoeuvring, and situational awareness. This contributes to safer and more efficient operations, while enabling a gradual transition toward higher levels of automation.

Solar panels can be integrated to support onboard energy use and reduce overall energy consumption.

Hyke has redesigned its vessel platform and production processes to improve efficiency and scalability. This has reduced build cost while maintaining performance and reliability.

Hyke’s electric ferries give cities a cleaner, quieter and more enjoyable way to move people across the water. The intelligent onboard systems enhance safety through sensor‑supported auto‑docking, while operators can reduce costs thanks to lower staffing needs and more efficient vessel deployment.

Passengers benefit from a smooth, noise‑free and emission‑free journey in a spacious, air‑conditioned cabin designed with accessibility in mind, including easy boarding for cyclists and travellers with reduced mobility.

Although waterborne public transport only accounts for less than 5 per cent of urban transit globally, it is being transformed by electrification and automation and better integrated with other public transport modes. Hyke’s improvements are a response to growing traction in several markets, with multiple cities and operators exploring electric ferry solutions as part of their urban mobility strategies.

Hyke is now moving toward new vessel deliveries, including upcoming newbuild projects in Norway.

“We are seeing strong interest from operators who want zero-emission transport on the water,” says Halvor Vislie, CEO of Hyke. “With the improvements we’ve made and the traction we’re seeing in the market, we believe Hyke is very well positioned for the next phase of growth.”