Venice Welcomes First Solar-Powered Vaporetto
by Erin Courtenay - Madison, WI
on 10.16.06
Venice recently welcomed a new solar-powered vaporetto to the Grand Canal. Owned and operated by the Bauer Hotel Group, the B mare shuttle boat is powered by solar energy collected on the roof of the boat. The vaporetto is not only emission free, it is also very quiet and does not produce troublesome waves - each of which are important issues on the Venetian canals. According to Family Travel Forum the "components of the shuttle boat require no external lubrication, do not have combustible parts and require no battery maintenance besides a change of battery once every seven years."
Among the places in the world that will experience a major impact from global warming, Venice may be the leading candidate for most threatened. The rise in water levels would cause unfathomable damage to the delicate city. Our hats off to B mare developers Posidonia Srl and MW-Line SA for bringing this CO2 emission-free transport to the canals of Venice.
Follow @TreeHugger on Twitter & get our headlines with @TH_rss!
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
- 7 Great Weekend Solar Power Projects
- Green Glossary: Planet Bike
- How to Use a Solar Cooker: What Works and What Doesn't
- Forget Going Green Because It's the Right Thing to Do—Go Green to Make Your Neighbors Jealous
- Burn More Calories, Use Less Energy with Self-Powered Cardio Machines
- How to Use a Solar Oven: Beans and Rice Recipe


































Very interesting, I've not yet seen this one. Let's hope the ACTV will follow soon!