Flying on the waters: Candela P-12 electric boats with hydrofoils

Swedish electric boat manufacturer Candela has unveiled its newest development, the Candela P-12, an electric hydrofoil pleasure boat. The "flying" electric ferry will soon be put into production.

This vessel can reduce energy consumption by more than 80%, which means that boats can travel the same distance with only 1/5 of the battery. This is 5 times more with the same battery than many larger and more powerful electric boats, according to Electrek.

The hydrofoil technology also has another advantage: it leaves no wake behind the boat. In areas such as Venice, where boats must move slowly to avoid creating waves that erode the edges of canals and buildings, Candela boats are allowed to move at higher speeds.

The new Candela P-12 can accommodate up to 30 passengers. This makes the P-12 ideal for commercial use in ferry services while addressing the main problem that has hindered the proliferation of commercial electric boats: reduced range.

The new vessel has a range of up to 100 km and is powered by a 252 kWh battery. This is more than enough to meet most coastal transportation needs. What is more important for commercial ferries is that it can be quickly recharged using DC fast charging.

Candela boats are suitable for a typical DC car charging station, like the ones you find in a parking lot. This means they can use existing dock infrastructure and low-cost chargers. In addition, the vessel's thrust vector allows for agile maneuvering, even moving sideways when necessary.

The Candela P-12 will soon be put into mass production, after which it will be sold for 1.7 million euros, which is significantly less than competing electric ferries. In addition, the lower operating costs mean that the vessel is expected to reduce operators' costs per passenger-kilometre by about 50%.