Climate-friendly on the Elbe: E-ferry Klarisse” celebrates its premiere!

Climate-friendly on the Elbe: E-ferry Klarisse” celebrates its premiere!

On September 11, 2025, significant progress for environmentally friendly mobility in the Meißen district was announced: The fully electric ferry “Klarisse” officially began service between Niederlommatzsch and Diesbar-Seußlitz. This ferry is not only the first of its kind at the said ferry station, but also an important part of the MEI_eFAIR project, which promotes the integration of public transport, cycling and climate protection. The Verkehrsgesellschaft Meißen mbH (VGM) has thus reached a real milestone and is setting an example for the green transition in local transport.

The “Klarisse” successfully completed its journey from the Rhine and reached its new location late in the evening on September 4, 2025. In order to put this innovative ferry into operation, the test trips began on September 5, 2025, during which other VGM employees were also instructed. District Administrator Ralf Hänsel emphasized the importance of these Elbe ferries for the region and the opportunities that renewable energy offers for the future.

Modernization opens up new perspectives

The ferry station in Niederlommatzsch has been extensively modernized and equipped with the latest technology. This includes a new pedestrian ramp and special floor guidance systems for the blind and visually impaired. These special measures show how seriously the district takes barrier-free mobility. The modernization work was completed on August 29, 2025, and ferry operations began with the first test trip just one day later.

The “Klarisse” is not only an innovative means of transport, it also runs quietly and completely emission-free thanks to the latest battery technology. Its development and construction were taken over by Lux-Werft und Schifffahrt GmbH; The ferry was designed specifically for the Elbe and its conditions, including an adaptable hull with a shallow draft.

Part of the e-mobility strategy

The implementation of the MEI_eFAIR project is supported by the National Climate Protection Initiative (NKI), which is providing a total of around 7.47 million euros. This not only means a sustainable improvement of the existing infrastructure, but also the creation of more than just a new means of transport. The aim is to convert all ferry stations in the district to e-ferries by mid-2026 and to strengthen the cycle path infrastructure along the Elbe.

Another aspect that the introduction of the “Klarisse” supports is the ongoing development of electromobility, which also has a positive impact in other areas. For example, the strategy for bidirectional charging is being pushed forward by the “European Coalition of the Willing for Bidirectional Charging”. This means that electric cars can not only store electricity, but also deliver it, which ensures a flexible energy system and stabilizes the power grid. In the future, these concepts will become increasingly important for the electric vehicle industry and the general design of energy supply.

With the introduction of the “Klarisse”, the Meißen district is showing that the future of mobility is not only electric, but also sustainable - an important message in times of climate change and the urgent need to modernize transport infrastructure worldwide.

For more information about this exciting development, visit the websites of Verkehrsgesellschaft Meißen mbH and the National Climate Protection Initiative.