The charging station at the BMK marina in Langenargen marks a turning point for electromobility on the water. Until now, there was no charging station for electrically powered boats on the lake in Germany, Austria or Switzerland. The 11 kW charging station can charge two boats at the same time. Boat owners activate the charging process using a QR code, an app or a charging card - similar to electric cars on land. Less than five per cent of boats still have an electric motor. But this is set to change as quickly as possible, as recreational boating on Lake Constance is set to become climate-neutral by 2040.
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Breaking a vicious circle
"We want to give a boost to electromobility on Lake Constance," explained Angela Mesmer, Operations Manager of the BMK marina in Langenargen, at the opening. The new charging station is intended to break a vicious circle: without charging infrastructure, boat owners do not buy electric boats. But without electric boats, there is also no need for charging infrastructure. For fully electric pleasure craft, it is crucial to be able to recharge the batteries while underway. The existing shore power connections in harbours offer significantly less power. Charging takes correspondingly longer. The 11 kW output of the new column enables faster charging than via conventional sockets.
Climate neutrality target by 2040
The International Lake Constance Conference has set itself the goal of making pleasure boating climate-neutral by 2040. The new charging station in Langenargen is intended to be a first step in this direction. Philipp Franke from the Ministry of Transport in Stuttgart emphasised the importance of the project for the energy transition on the water at the inauguration of the charging station. Bouillet Energy supplied the technical equipment. Lake Constance is considered an important test area for sustainable shipping. Various initiatives are working to reduce emissions on the water.
Further projects on Lake Constance
Several climate-neutral shipping projects are underway on Lake Constance. The electric ferry "MS Insel Mainau" is already travelling between Constance and the island of Mainau. At the "E-Mobility Experience Day" in Friedrichshafen in May 2025, manufacturers and operators presented various concepts for electric drives. The gas-powered car ferry "Richmond" travels between Constance and Meersburg and already uses an alternative drive system. An association is campaigning for a stricter speed limit on Lake Constance in order to reduce environmental pollution. The "Mainau Climate Dialogue" regularly brings together experts to discuss climate-neutral shipping. Baden-Württemberg has taken over the chairmanship of the International Lake Constance Conference and wants to do more to promote nature conservation and climate-neutral shipping.
Climate-friendly fuels
May 2025 saw the launch of the "Climate-friendly Lake Constance" pilot project at the Ultramarin Boatshow in Kressbronn. Under the motto "Cast off for the future", the project marks an important milestone for sustainable mobility on the water. The aim is to gradually convert private pleasure boats and yachts on Lake Constance to climate-neutral fuels and thus contribute to the realisation of the regional climate targets by 2040. The project, which is subsidised by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Transport, focuses specifically on the use of alternative fuels in leisure boating.
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Jill Grigoleit
Editor Travel
