The flying ferry departs

This article was first published on Bil24.no.

Candela has put the world's first “flying ferry” into production. Watch the pictures and not least the video!

Swedish company Candela has set itself the goal of revolutionizing the electric boat market, and it will do so by making hydrofoil boats.

They are electric boats with wings on the lower side, and although this also has positive consequences for boats with diesel engines, the height is greater for electric boats. As electric cars, it is necessary to reduce consumption so that the range is as long as possible, and hydrofoils are superior in this respect to water ones.

These wings raise the hull above the surface of the water thus eliminating water resistance, and as an added bonus, the sound of waves and waves that boats usually leave behind also disappears – because you are simply flying above the water.

We tested this summer ourselves with a newer boat called the C-8, and it was a very special feeling to be going at about 20 knots while the boat was completely level and the only thing we heard was the wind.

Now, Candela is using the technology on larger boats, specifically ferries. Already last summer, they were able to demonstrate the P-12 concept. Like the C-8, the ferry lifts itself above the water when it reaches 18 knots, after which it also uses 80 percent less energy than conventional fast-moving ships. According to Candela. The ferry also reached 30 knots, a record for the Swedes for such passenger ships.

The P-12 has a range of 50 nautical miles, so it can handle most of the coastal trips these ferries normally make.

Moreover, Candela says that a model that can accommodate 30 passengers costs 1.7 million euros, which seems very reasonable, because the hydrofoil solution makes the electric ferry so efficient that it “only” needs a 252-kilowatt-hour battery.

– With the P-12, we not only offer a faster and more comfortable electric alternative to ships powered by fossil fuels, says Erik Eklund, Director of Commercial Ships at Candela.

– We make it possible for operators to switch to sustainable vessels that are cost-effective and profitable, a crucial step towards cleaner seas and lakes.

There are also some other economic benefits to this electric ferry. According to Candela, they reduce “fuel” costs by up to 90 percent compared to diesel ships, while the C-Pod's special underwater engines should require minimal maintenance. Moreover, the ship is designed for one crew, so here it is also possible to reduce labor costs.

Candela says they expect the P-12 to cut costs per passenger kilometer in half, and achieve similar operating economics per passenger as a hybrid electric bus.

For customers and passengers, all this should also mean cheaper tickets, so we can only rejoice for such expressions. The Swedes highlight several advantages. The ferry will be able to turn in two minutes thanks to special motors, and a digital “flight control” system inspired by fighter jets will adjust the hydrofoil 100 times per second so that it avoids hitting the waves and enjoys a particularly comfortable flight.

Want to see how it works in practice? Of course you have.

Finally, Candela can mention that they have three versions in the pipeline, namely the P-12 Shuttle, P-12 Business, and P-12 Voyager. The former seats 30 passengers, the Business Class can be equipped with between 12 and 20 passenger seats and accommodates a lot of luggage, and finally the Voyager is a slightly more luxurious version.

– P-12 is a platform that caters to a wide range of clients. Whether for public fleets, VIP services or private clients, it will revolutionize how we travel on water, believes Candela CEO Gustav Haselskog.

The Candela P-12 shuttle will be put into service around Stockholm by next year, and will reduce the commute time from that of Ekeru from the normal 55 minutes to 25 minutes, so the flying ferry has taken off and is now in production.