San Diego Bay’s familiar panorama is about to get a jolt from the future: Two long-running, diesel-powered ferry boats used by the San Diego-Coronado Ferry will soon be replaced by fully electric boats.
The boats, which cost more than $21 million in total, will look sleek and modern taking passengers on the usual routes — one from Coronado to Broadway Pier, the other from Coronado to the convention center.
In addition to reducing emissions to zero and ending decades of the boats spewing harmful particulate matter into the air, the switch will eliminate fumes and make the boats quieter.
Flagship Enterprises, which operates the ferry, estimates the new boats will be ready to take over in fall 2026.
“Flagship is excited to lead the way with an environmentally friendly sustainable transportation alternative for ferry passengers,” said company president Brad Engel.
The new boats will also have more space for bicycles and strollers, the company said.
An artist’s rendering of one of the new boats soon to start running for the Coronado ferry. (Flagship Enterprises)
Flagship got a $15.3 million grant from the California Air Resources Board to cover the lion’s share of the cost.
“This investment by the state of California in fully electric zero-emission ferries is a critical step toward cleaning our environment and reducing air pollution in San Diego,” said Assemblymember David Alvarez, D-San Diego.
The grant is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that aims to use cap-and-trade dollars from polluters to benefit the environment, economy and public health.
Flagship is partnering on the project with the San Diego Air Pollution Control District.
“The electrification of transportation has a big impact on improving air quality,” said Paula Forbis, air pollution control officer for the district.
The switch to electric ferries also fits with the San Diego Port District’s “Green Port” initiative.
“This is exactly the kind of collaborative effort we envisioned,” said Port Commissioner Danielle Moore.
Flagship said the switch was expected to boost air quality in Barrio Logan and National City.
“We are proud to be contributing to a thriving environment for the next 100 years,” said Flagship chair Art Engel.
The switch is also expected to create new jobs. Roughly 50 Flagship employees will need to know how to run and maintain electric ferries.
Flagship says fares won’t increase when the new boats begin operating.
The company has raised fares steeply in recent years, from $5 one-way in 2021 up to $9 one-way beginning last summer.
The California Public Utilities Commission approved the increases based on Flagship’s claims that it has faced significantly higher costs for fuel, labor and other expenses.
The fare hikes haven’t affected the ferry’s free commuter service, which includes six trips each morning from Coronado to Broadway Pier and six trips each morning from Broadway Pier to Coronado.
Commuters using the federally-subsidized service receive a voucher to take a return boat back later in the day at no charge. The commuter service is open to anyone, not just people who live or work in Coronado.
The new ferry boats will also operate the commuter trips.
The commuter service, which began in 1993, had been funded by tolls collected on the Coronado Bridge until shortly before the tolls were discontinued in 2002.
Originally Published: August 18, 2025 at 4:33 PM PDT