The P-12 Shuttle flying electric ferry, which is planned to go into production in 2023, is being unveiled for the first time by Swedish marine technology company Candela.
The hydrofoils that lift the flying electric boat out of the water also allow it to use a lot less energy than other types of boats. After successfully testing the company's current recreational vessels, the technology is now slated for use in commercial maritime.
Candela Releases Flying Electric Ferry
According to Candela, the boat can travel at speeds of up to 30 knots (34 mph or 55 km/h) thanks to the reduced drag of hydrofoils, making it the fastest electric ship in the world.
As per Erik Eklund, the Vice President of Commercial Vessels at Candela, "There's no other ship that has this kind of active electronic stabilization. Flying aboard the P-12 Shuttle in rough seas will feel more like being on a modern express train than on a boat: it's quiet, smooth, and stable."
When compared to contemporary commercial ferries, the energy-efficient electric watercraft uses 95 percent less energy for each passenger-kilometer. The vessel will offer a cleaner and more effective alternative to the diesel-based ferries that currently travel that route and offer shorter commuting times than the subway or autos it competes with.
Per passenger kilometer, the P-12 Shuttle consumes just 0.1 kWh of electricity. The ship's 180 kWh battery has a range of 50 nautical miles at service speed, and it uses DC fast charging to recharge its battery in less than an hour. The commuters will save over an hour every day using Candela's P-12 Shuttle instead of the current 55 minutes it takes to travel there by subway, bus, or diesel ferry (and the same amount of time traveling there by automobile during morning and evening rush hour).
Commuters Expected to Benefit From Candela's New Ferry
More benefits exist for commuters than merely shorter commute times. The P-12 Shuttle's flight is noticeably smoother than traditional ferries because of electronic stabilization. The hydrofoils on the boat are computer-controlled, adjusting 100 times per second to provide a smooth and stable flight path over the water, eliminating motion sickness for sensitive passengers.
Another key advantage cited for the P-12 Shuttle is its 30-passenger capacity. A 300-passenger ship typically carries roughly 50 commuters due to the average occupancy rate of Stockholm's existing ferries, which is around 17 percent.
Ships that are smaller and more maneuverable, like the P-12 Shuttle, can run more effectively, with fewer operational costs, and on tighter schedules. Cities with navigable waterways, like Stockholm, New York, and San Francisco, are good locations for these electric boats.
Later this year, in Candela's brand-new automated facility in Rotebro, outside of Stockholm, the carbon fiber keel for the first P-12 Shuttle will be laid in preparation for production. In order to eventually create hundreds of P-12 shuttles annually, the business will leverage production techniques refined during the designing and constructing of a variety of electric hydrofoil recreational boats.
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