Japan’s PowerX has completed another round of fundraising towards building the world’s first battery power transfer ship, dubbed the “Tesla of the seas”, by 2025.
The Tokyo-based outfit has completed two fundraising rounds this year, taking funding to more than ¥10bn ($76m) in total.
The first round this year raised ¥2.7bn, backed by Japanese shipping giant Shoei Kisen, Sompo Japan Insurance and ship finance companies Anchor Ship Partners and JA Mitsui Leasing.
Other financial and technical backers for the PowerX project include Imabari Shipbuilding, DNV and NYK Line.
Tetsuro Shinoda, of Anchor Ship Partners Group, said his company can help generate further funding for the project.
“We will leverage our financial expertise and connections with regional financial institutions that the group has cultivated over the years to support PowerX’s business expansion, thereby paving the way to a decarbonised society,” he said.
The planned PowerX vessel will transport green energy generated at offshore wind farms to shore in containerised batteries.
The green-energy batteries have a variety of uses, including powering ships or charging electric vehicles.
PowerX recently launched an onboard battery power system for ships known as Mega Power for Marine.
It has begun building a battery factory and has developed the PowerX hypercharger system for ultra-fast electric car charging.
It also formed a business partnership with Audi Japan to develop vehicle charging points at Audi dealerships.
