A new electric ferry operating in the Stockholm archipelago is bringing hydrofoil technology into everyday passenger service. Candela’s P-12, which began running in July on the route between Sollenkroka and Möja, accelerates to 16 knots before its foils lift the hull clear of the water. It can reach a top speed of 25 knots, or just over 46 km/h.
Passengers may feel some movement as the boat gets up to speed, but the ride becomes quieter once it is airborne. The ferry’s electronic control system helps keep it balanced, while its electric motor runs without the noise and exhaust associated with a diesel engine.
Candela and other startups are adapting foiling technology, traditionally associated with sailing, for commercial ferries. Their aim is to cut emissions and operating costs. Arash Eslamdoost, a marine engineering professor at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, says studies indicate that electric hydrofoils could use 70 to 80 percent less energy than conventional boats.
Candela founder Gustav Hasselskog says passengers notice the effort required during takeoff, but that the ride becomes calm once the vessel rises above the water. The article reports that the P-12 serves the route several times a day.
Sources: t3n.