Enter a new age of on-water exploration and inner-city ferrying thanks to the innovating guise behind Candela, the Swedish-based boating firm that's pushing bounds in electrification through expert hydrofoil technology. Although the company is well-known for its C-8 flying boat, Candela also has plans to reduce global carbon emissions via a 30-passenger P-12, which has now officially gone into full serial production in Stockholm.
Much akin to its smaller and more agile cousin, the P-12 leverages computer-guided hydrofoils to hit speeds of over 18 knots while still only expending 80% less energy over diesel alternatives. A first for electric boats is the P-12's top speed of up to 30 knots, while it also can cover "most coastal transport needs" according to the firm thanks to its 50 nautical mile range.
The P-12 proudly wields twin C-POD MAX 240-kW peak power electric pod drivers that are mounted to its aft hydrofoils in tandem with a 252 kWh Polestar-made lithium-ion battery. The ferry's hydrofoils gift it the ability to use smaller, more lightweight batteries as opposed to bulkier options on the market. Candela states the P-12 can cover 15km in just 25 minutes.
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The company is aiming for a Summer 2024 official launch in Stockholm's public transport network at an initial asking price of €1.7M in its Shuttle configuration. Two other variants will also be available, including a Business option that seats 12 to 20, and a Voyager edition that caters to more private clients and sports a fancy interior.
The P-12 offers state-of-the-art technological innovation and long-term CO2 reduction without sacrificing performance or quality. Candela claims in its press release that its P-12 is set to "cut costs per kilometer by up to 50%" and reduce fuel costs once in service by up to 90% over diesel counterparts.
It was also tested to show that the P-12 doesn't cause damage to moored ships, docks, or even coastlines due to minimal wake produced via its hydrofoils. With maritime transport proving to be as much as 3% of global CO2 emissions, Candela's goal is to deliver a cost-effective alternative that doesn't cause headaches. The company claims that each stop turnaround for the ferry could be made in under two minutes, with docking made simple due to its automatic and adjustable bow ramp.
"Today, in many cities, congested roads are common while waterways - humanity's oldest transport infrastructure - remain underutilized for rapid commuting," says Candela CEO, Gustav Hassekskog. "The P-12 will let you use these waterways as green highways, enabling fast intra-city connections. Often, the quickest route is by water."
Despite currently being situated solely in Stockholm, Sweden, where it reduces inner-city travel to Ekerö by 30 minutes (from 55 minutes to 25 minutes), the P-12 could prove to vastly alter commutes across the world, including in parts of Washington DC, Florida, and New York.
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