Revolution in maritime transportation: The first electric “flying” ferry goes into mass production

Swedish electric boat manufacturer Candela has announced the successful completion of test “flights” for the Candela P-12 electric ferry, the development of which was announced earlier this year. The flying electric ferry is now entering mass production ahead of its upcoming commercial launch. Candela’s boats are part of a new trend of watercraft that increasingly resemble airplanes, using an underwater “wing” to generate lift rather than propelling a V-shaped bow through the water.

The world’s fastest electric ferry

Candela’s electric hydrofoil cruisers are already well-known, often seen floating above the surface of the water on European waterways and even in various parts of the USA. By using computer-controlled hydrofoils to lift its boats out of the water, Candela can reduce the energy used by over 80 percent. This means that boats can travel the same distance with only 1/5 of the battery.

Another advantage of using a hydrofoil is that it does not create any waves behind the boat. Thanks to this advantage, Candela’s boats can be used in places with narrow channels such as Venice and at high speeds. The new Candela P-12 uses the same hydrofoil technology as the company’s other boats, but increases passenger capacity up to 30 people. This makes the P-12 ideal for commercial use in ferry operations, while solving the main problem that has prevented the widespread use of commercial electric boats: low range.

Candela P-12 offers a range of up to 100 km and a maximum speed of 55 km/h with its 252 kWh battery. This is more than enough range to meet most coastal transportation needs. However, what is more important for commercial ferries is that the vehicle can be charged quickly with DC fast charging. Candela’s boats require a typical automotive-style DC charging station, like those found at car parks. This means existing dock infrastructure can be used, unlike most commercial electric ferries that require astronomically priced megawatt chargers. While the P-12 can be used with the currently used conventional scaffolds, it can perform fast turns and agile maneuvers with the dual C-POD (456hp) engine inside.

Very high efficiency

The Candela P-12 is now entering mass production and will be sold for 1.7 million Euros from now on. According to the company, this figure is in line with the current cost of internal combustion engine-powered ferries today and is significantly lower than competing electric ferries. The new ship will be offered in three different models: P-12 Shuttle, P-12 Business and P-12 Voyager.

Add in the fuel savings (Candela estimates the cost of running the boats at 10% of an equivalent fuel vessel), an overall lower level of maintenance, and the fact that the whole thing can be operated by one person rather than three or four, and the P-12 looks like a pretty smart investment. is starting to appear. Candela claims the total savings are around 50% “per kilometer per passenger”, leaving significantly more margin for operations, profit and reinvestment.