Two solar-powered electric boats will begin operations on the Singapore River by April 2025, with a total of 10 such vessels slated to replace half of river cruise operator WaterB’s current fleet by the end of 2025.
Manufactured by local maritime start-up Pyxis, these new vessels—named Pyxis R ferries—will be delivered “almost every other month” throughout the year, according to Pyxis founder and chief executive Tommy Phun.
Solar Technology Powers Singapore River’s First Electric Ferries
The solar panels installed on each Pyxis R ferry can generate approximately 22 kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity daily. When all 10 boats are operational, their combined daily electricity generation would be enough to power 20 HDB flats for a day.
Mr Phun noted that river boats mainly operate during evenings and nights, allowing the vessels to harvest solar energy while on standby in the afternoon.
“The amount of power required to operate each Pyxis R ferry is equivalent to that needed to run three to four hairdryers,” said Mr Phun. The solar panels will reduce the boats’ dependence on Singapore’s electricity grid.
The Pyxis R ferries are among the first boats in Singapore equipped with vehicle-to-grid technology—a system allowing vessels to return excess renewable energy to the grid.
Mr Phun described having 10 such ferries on the Singapore River as similar to operating a “floating solar farm” on a sunny afternoon.
An agreement to test solutions for a working vehicle-to-grid charging model for maritime vessels in Singapore was signed on 17 March 2025. The signatories included Pyxis Maritime, SP Mobility (a subsidiary of utilities company SP Group), electric mobility solutions provider The Mobility House Asia Pacific, and WaterB.
Economic and Environmental Benefits for Singapore River Tourism
WaterB director Darren Tan said the 48-seater solar-powered ferries would cut the company’s long-term operating costs by 30 to 40 percent, as the energy generated can power at least 50 percent of daily operations, even during rainy weather.
Passengers can book river cruises on the Pyxis R ferries—which travel between Clarke Quay, Boat Quay and Marina Bay—through WaterB’s website or at any of its ticketing kiosks. Tickets cost $28 per adult and $18 per child.
WaterB currently operates 60 to 80 trips daily, and Mr Tan does not expect passenger numbers to increase significantly soon. However, he emphasized that the new ferries align with WaterB’s commitment to sustainable tourism.
“The ride will be more pleasant for passengers as the electric ferry is quieter and more stable on the water,” added Mr Tan.
This is not Pyxis’s first venture into electric maritime vessels. In March 2024, the company launched a series of electric workboats to transport workers between Marina South Pier and nearby anchorages.
At the Pyxis R launch event held at the ArtScience Museum on 17 March 2025, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Baey Yam Keng congratulated Pyxis and WaterB, noting that the vessel’s vehicle-to-grid capabilities support a more resilient and efficient ecosystem.
“This vessel is a testament to our maritime sector’s ability to blend tradition with cutting-edge technology, demonstrating that clean energy solutions can be both functional and commercially viable,” he said.
Mr Phun envisions that by incorporating vehicle-to-grid technology, the Pyxis R ferries could power micro-waterfront projects, such as events on floating piers, allowing them to serve the areas they operate in beyond just transporting passengers.
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