Mobility Quinten SG wants to have a hydrogen-powered lake cab built

The car-free village of Quinten SG has launched the construction of a hydrogen-powered lake cab to improve access to the village. According to a press release, this propulsion technology is being used commercially on a Swiss lake for the first time. The canton of St. Gallen is supporting the project.

The technical feasibility has been proven, the canton of St. Gallen wrote in a press release on Monday. The contract for shipbuilding will be awarded in the coming months.

A catamaran for a maximum of twelve people is planned, which will be operated by Schiffsbetrieb Walensee AG. Hydrogen is to be produced using electricity from hydropower.

The Canton of St. Gallen's regional development agency supported and co-financed the project during the development and construction phase as part of the federal government's new regional policy.

Quinten on Lake Walen is only accessible on foot and by water. The village, which currently has 50 inhabitants, is to be made more attractive as a place to live with the on-demand lake cab. The "Quinten lebt" foundation is committed to this.

Joël Schmid, President of the "Quinten lebt" foundation, told the Keystone-SDA news agency that the actual costs of the pioneering project cannot be precisely quantified at present. It is expected to cost several hundred thousand francs.

SDA