Footage shows how a a fleet of new solar-powered electric boats transporting commuters on a canal in Bangkok, Thailand, on March 18.

The environmentally friendly ferries were introduced in order to reduce emissions and avoid pollution from oil and fuel spillages in the waterways.

City council chiefs hope that the sustainable green scheme will be replicated in other regions of the country.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said the new boat service run from the Wat Si Bun Rueang Buddhist temple to the Minburi district. They have ordered 12 electric boats for the project and rebuilt eight damaged piers to encourage passengers off the roads and out of their cars.

Officials said the service runs weekdays from 5.30 am to 8.30 pm with boats departing every 15 minutes during rush hour and every 30 minutes outside of that time.