- Swedish electric boat manufacturer, Candela, has become the first manufacturer to bring an all-electric hydrofoil ferry into public service, with its Candela P-12 model now operating on Stockholm’s public water transport network.
- The new addition entered service this week, and completed a 15km route in half the journey time that conventional diesel-powered ships currently take, by running at speeds of up to 25 knots (28mph).
- Candela is hoping that this launch will serve as a footprint to other cities with underutilised waterways, proving the other options available alongside more widely-used methods of city transportation.
The first electric hydrofoil comes into public service
The hydrofoil design, where the majority of the boat remains above the water, massively cutting friction, means the P-12 uses around 80% less energy compared to a conventional ship – which has made electrification of such ships a harder challenge, considering the size of battery packs that are required.
In Stockholm’s case, public water transportation already has a somewhat sizeable fleet in place. Over 70 public transport boats are already in service, but, as is the case with many ships, they consume more fossil fuels combined than all of the buses and trains operating in Stockholm – despite the relatively small usage of these ferries in comparison.
Region Stockholm, who operate public transport in the Swedish capital, will run this electric hydrofoil service on a pilot basis to see how this hydrofoil performs in a public transport application. This’ll run up until the end summer of next year, excluding winter periods when the river contains ice. Further into the future, Region Stockholm is hoping that all vessels under its arm will run under the power of renewable energy.
Gustav Hasselskog, Founder and CEO of Candela, commented on the milestone:
“In many cities, the shortest route is over water, which is humanity’s oldest infrastructure. Today, our waterways are underutilized due to the high costs, wake concerns, and emissions of traditional vessels. If we can unlock this potential, we can make cities more attractive… For the first time, there is a vessel that makes waterborne transport faster, greener, and more affordable than land transport. It’s a renaissance for the world’s waterways, and it’s exciting that Stockholm is leading the way.”
