Inspiration

Cast off on a cruise with the Compagnie des Bateaux

June 2023

3 min.

Alternative forms of transport navigate their way around Lake Annecy

The Compagnie des Bateaux du Lac d’Annecy (Lake Annecy Boat Company) is an integral part of the Lake Annecy landscape. Its illustrious history dates back to the 19th century, on a colorfully sunny maiden voyage in 1886 at a time when photos were only grayscale. Since then, boats in the fleet have leisurely crossed back and forth and around the lake, imparting upon the gentle waves the romantic charm of a cruise along the water’s edge.

While history is important for context, no need to remain fixated upon imagery of yesteryear. Today, the Compagnie des Bateaux du Lac d’Annecy is betting on the future by starting the huge task of electrifying its entire fleet. This will significantly reduce the company’s carbon impact when navigating on Lake Annecy, providing the now even purer waters with the peaceful tranquility they so deserve.

Electricity at the helm for Lake Annecy’s fleet of boats

The long, illustrious history of the Compagnie des Bateaux du Lac d’Annecy has reached a major, radically-environmental turning point. The boat company’s owes the major change to the entire team of course, but especially to one man with a vision.

Philippe Gausset, who was already head of the fleet of boats down the road in Aix-les-Bains (Lake Bourget), took over the Compagnie des Bateaux du Lac d’Annecy in 2019 through his company “Tourisme Participations.” The acquisition occurred during turbulent times to say the least given the worldwide pandemic that followed, “It offered me the chance to think, to review the various options available, and to come to the conclusion that it was more than feasible to electrify every single one of our boats,” explains company president, Philippe Gausset.

As part this major electrification project, the five boats on Lake Bourget and six boats on Lake Annecy will soon be outfitted with electric motors. Before replacing their combustion engines, each boat will receive a major upgrade in the very near future. “To use as little electricity as possible and make the all-electric transition both viable and relevant, we first need to ensure maximum energy efficiency.”

This means replacing all windows, installing high-performance insulation, replacing all interior electric installations, before changing the motors themselves.

Electrification one step at a time

Among Annecy’s fleet of six boats, the already hybrid Amiral will soon cast off on Lake Geneva; Philippe Gausset recently set up business in Yvoire, Evian, and Thonon (starting in October 2023).

On Lake Annecy, the Savoie will be the first boat outfitted with an electric motor, casting off on its maiden electric voyage at the end of June. The well-known restaurant-cruise ship, the Libellule, will join its sister ship in July. After the summer season, starting on September 23, the Cygne and Allobroge will be dry docked to undergo the necessary renovations and electrification. The program will finish in March 2024 when the Belle Etoile receives its new electric motor. The latter has already undergone all of the other necessary renovations.

The goal is for the entire fleet to be electrified by spring/summer 2024.

Minimal carbon footprint

While the renovations and electrification represent a significant investment to say the least, approximately six million euros for the five boats, they will have a direct and real impact on reducing CO2 emissions: from the current 1800 metric tons per year to 30 metric tons per year; a 98.3% reduction overall.

Designed to operate all day long (while still maintaining a margin of safety), the boats will slow-charge at night in the Thiou River. Charging will be staggered so as to pull as little energy as possible from the grid. By recharging at night in the summer, the boats will not have an effect on peak energy consumption hours during the day.

Electric motors, a long-term solution

“Before starting this transition, I did a considerable amount of research on other possible sources of energy, like hydrogen, which still needs straightening out. Electric technologies have made considerable progress in a very short period of time,” explains Philippe Gausset.

Smaller, less expensive, more powerful, and longer lasting, the high-performance batteries on each boat are also made in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region. “The combustion motors we had were designed to guarantee 20,000 operating hours, the equivalent of navigating on the lake for 20 years. The electric motors that we have installed will be able to operate for 55,000 hours. This means that the current staff at the Compagnie des Bateaux will not be around the next time the motors need to be changed!”

This great example of change and clear vision for the future for the Compagnie des Bateaux du Lac d’Annecy, a mainstay among Annecy’s major attractions, shows the way in terms of environmental responsibility and how to face one of the modern era’s foremost challenges.

From stopovers to tastings, taking a boat cruise on Lake Annecy has never been so quiet and peaceful. The sweet life indeed, no more and no less.