Norway pioneered electric ferries. Now its making them self-driving

(CNN) With medieval origins and a quaint, colorful port, the low-rise Norwegian city of Trondheim doesnt look very futuristic. But the former Viking capital is making waves with a pioneering transport initiative: a zero-emissions, self-driving electric ferry. Passengers on each side of the canal that separates the port and city center can press a button to call the boat to their side. The boat charges while it waits at the dock, fits up to 12 passengers as well as bicycles, and takes less than 60 seconds to make the crossing -- saving pedestrians a 15-minute walk. The ferry was developed in 2018 by researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) as an alternative to a proposed bridge across Trondheims harbor canal. The prototype was a hit and NTNU commercialized its research, forming Zeabuz in 2019. Its part of a larger movement exploring how to use waterways for more sustainable transport. Reviving urban waterways"Historically, thats how we traveled," says Kihl, highlighting that most major cities were built on or near water. Reviving underused waterways to relieve road congestion is an easy solution, she says, as it requires minimal infrastructure compared to other transport systems. Thats one reason Trondheim wants to support ferry transport, says Brd Eidet, Head of Business Development for Trondheim Municipality. With numerous coastal communities, he says theres a cultural significance attached to boat travel in Norway. "Waterways have always been important transport routes, but lost ground as cars became more important," he says. Autonomous boats like Zeabuz are the next step, providing an alternative to land transport and making ferries more energy- and cost-effective, says Mjs. Automation also improves operational efficiency, he says. Less energy is used, and without a crew or driver there is more space for passengers. "Foolproof" safety systemsWell-established legislation governs safety on conventional cnn,,medieval origins,quaint,colorful port,low-rise norwegian city,trondheim,futuristic,viking capital,making waves,pioneering transport initiative,-emissions,-driving electric ferry,passengers,side,canal,separates,port,city center,press,button,call,boat,boat charges,waits,dock,fits,12 passengers,bicycles,takes,60 seconds,make,crossing -- saving pedestrians,15-minute walk,ferry,developed,researchers,norwegian university,science,technology,ntnu,alternative,proposed bridge,trondheim,harbor canal,prototype,hit,ntnu commercialized,research