Dual-fuel Car Carriers Set Sail
London based Zodiac Maritime has embarked on an exciting partnership with leading Chinese EV manufacturer BYD Company Ltd, as they have successfully delivered two new vessels and are operating them for BYD on long term charters. BYD is now transporting up to 5,000 cars at a time from China to Western Europe aboard the Zodiac Maritime operated ships BYD Explorer No.1 and BYD Changzhou. Both ships were built by CIMC Raffles in China and are part of a series of 10 new vessels ordered at this shipyard by Zodiac Maritime.
Launched as China is on the verge of becoming the world’s largest car exporter, BYD Explorer No.1 was BYD’s first chartered cargo ship. The ship, which is capable of carrying up to 7,000 cars, is a dual-fuel powered vessel that uses Liquefied Natural Gas as its primary fuel, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It uses state of the art “roll-on/roll-off” (RoRo) mechanisms, allowing vehicles to be efficiently loaded and offloaded.
BYD Explorer No. 1 already successfully delivered 3,000 electric vehicles to the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany on its maiden voyage in March 2024 and has conducted several similar voyages since then.
Delivered in November 2024, BYD Changzhou commenced her maiden voyage in early December 2024 after loading 5,000 electric vehicles on board in China bound for the UK and ports in Europe.
These charter agreements are a significant milestone for BYD and the EV industry more broadly, as it meets international demand and ramps up sustainable shipping solutions. The ships will serve as BYD’s primary means of exporting its vehicles to Western Europe. Their successful voyages mark a new era for China’s transport of domestically built cars, as demand expands, and a compelling new chapter for the global EV market.