The world’s first electric hydrofoil ferry has begun its service. The Candela P-12 “Nova” sets out to eliminate emissions from Stockholm’s public transport while halving commute times.
‘This is a paradigm shift for urban transport and a revival of our waterways,’ says Gustav Hasselskog, founder and CEO of Candela.
At 07:15 on Tuesday, 29 October, the Nova departed from its dock in the quiet suburb of Tappström, powered by its electric motors, and took off. Flying silently a metre above the water’s surface, it completed the 15 km route to Stockholm’s City Hall in just half an hour. This can cut the usual morning commute in half. For Stockholm, this may signal a future where city water transport is sustainable, affordable, and faster than travelling by car.
The P-12 is 11.99 metres long and 4.5 metres wide. It can carry thirty passengers while being operated by one crew member. Propulsion is provided by two Candela C-PODs and capacity of the batteries is four times 63 kWh for a range of 40 nautical miles at 25 knots service speed.
Also read: Sweden to trial Candela’s electric ‘flying’ ferry for public transport
First Candela P-12
Nova is the first of Candela’s new P-12 model to enter service. Its computer-controlled hydrofoil wings lift the hull above water, reducing energy consumption by eighty per cent compared to conventional vessels by cutting water friction. Region Stockholm aims to transition all vessels to renewable energy, with goals to reduce emissions and minimise disruptive wakes.
The challenge with conventional fast vessels is that they consume enormous amounts of energy at high speeds, plowing through the water. This makes electrification difficult, as their range is limited even with large batteries.
Stockholm’s approximately seventy public transport vessels use more fossil fuels than the city’s buses and trains combined, despite representing only a small share of total ridership. Water transport is costly and slow, as the vessels create large wakes, limiting their speed in the city centre.
Also read: Watch Candela’s fully electric hydrofoil boat in action
Hydrofoil technology minimises wake
Since Nova flies above the water rather than pushing through it like conventional vessels, it creates minimal wake. As a result, the ferry is allowed to travel at high speeds within the city limits, where other vessels are restricted by wake regulations.
Nova runs on 100 per cent renewable electricity, and emits minimal noise even at high speeds, thanks to its electric C-POD motors with no mechanical transmission.
Thanks to its hydrofoil technology, Nova is not only the fastest electric ferry in the world, but also the fastest in Stockholm’s public transport fleet, cruising at 25 knots, outpacing the diesel-powered V-class ferries that previously held the speed record.
Commuting from suburb
Ekerö, Stockholm’s fastest-growing island suburb, lies just 15 km from the city centre. Commuting typically takes an hour by traditional ferries, limited by speed restrictions, or by bus/metro and car, subject to rush-hour congestion. By reducing travel times to thirty minutes, the new hydrofoil line brings Ekerö closer to the capital.
Hasselskog: ‘In many cities, the shortest route is over water, which is humanity’s oldest infrastructure. Today, our waterways are underutilised due to the high costs, wake concerns, and emissions of traditional vessels. If we can unlock this potential, we can make cities more attractive.’
Also read: First order for ‘flying’ electric ferry outside of Europe
No dock infrastructure
With its energy efficiency, Nova requires no costly dock infrastructure, charging instead at a regular car fast charger at the City Hall. Its long range allows it to match the schedule of conventional diesel ferries, with recharging during the typical lunch break.
Nova will operate through fall 2024 until the waters freeze, resuming service in spring and continuing through August 2025. The route is a pilot project run by Candela, Trafikverket, and Region Stockholm (SL), aiming to explore how hydrofoil technology can enable faster, more affordable, and emissions-free maritime travel, creating new transit patterns in Stockholm.
In 2024, Candela received orders from Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, and Berlin, with additional clients to be announced.
Picture and video by Candela.
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