Press release -
Candela C-8 Polestar Edition: Iconic Design Meets Electric Performance at Sea
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN – 23 May 2023. Premium electric car maker Polestar (Nasdaq: PSNY) and electric hydrofoil boat maker Candela reveal the next phase of their partnership – the Candela C-8 Polestar edition. Combining Polestar’s Scandinavian take on luxury EV design with Candela’s energy-efficient electric hydrofoil boat, the new Candela C-8 Polestar edition unites the two companies’ efforts to accelerate the shift to more sustainable electric mobility.
The bespoke design cues include a new solid light grey color, specially designed seat upholstery and hydrofoils painted in iconic Swedish gold.
“Candela’s hydrofoil technology is a paradigm shift for sustainable performance in the marine industry. Like the first time driving an electric car, you instantly feel that this is the future when the boat ‘takes off’ – and now with the special gold details that we so proudly exhibit on our cars,” says Maximilian Missoni, Head of Design at Polestar.
Previously, the two Swedish premium mobility brands reached an agreement for Polestar to supply batteries and charging technology to power Candela’s electric hydrofoil boats.
The Candela C-8 Polestar edition brings Polestar’s expression of Scandinavian luxury to the marine industry. A new solid grey exterior colour complimented by a lighter grey tone for interior areas gives the boat a sleek and uniform look which is strengthened by the use of the same marine-certified textile everywhere, from seats, cushions and sunbeds to wall and roof panels.
Design upgrades also bring expertise from the automotive industry with a specially designed seat upholstery that offers outstanding comfort and enhances the experience of a smooth and silent ride in an electric hydrofoil boat. To emphasise the innovative technology and performance from Candela, the hydrofoils are painted in the iconic Swedish gold colour that characterises the performance details of Polestar’s cars.
“Excellent design has an inherent value, but it can also serve as a powerful driving force towards a sustainable future. At Candela, our primary focus is to create vessels that are more compelling in every respect. I am therefore very happy about the C-8 Polestar edition and our collaboration with the brilliant team at Polestar,” says Gustav Hasselskog, CEO & founder Candela.
Technology, Performance and Sustainability unite
Polestar and Candela already have a technical collaboration, as all Candela C-8’s – including C-8 Polestar Edition - employ the 69 kWh battery and charging hardware from the standard-range Polestar 2 to realise a range of up to 57 nautical miles (65 US miles) on one charge at a cruising speed of 22 knots. This compares favourably with traditional powerboats, and comes with a high-speed range 2-3 times longer than conventional electric speedboats, thanks to the hydrofoils that reduce water friction. The Candela C-8 uses Candela’s new, efficient 75 kW electric direct drive pod motor– the Candela C-POD – and ‘flies’ on computer-guided hydrofoils that lift the hull above the water at high speeds, reducing energy consumption by up to 80% compared to traditional motorboats. When foiling, the ride is silent and smooth, without damaging wakes, thanks to Candela’s computer-stabilized foil technology.
The Candela C-8 Polestar edition comes either as an open daycruiser, a T-top version or as a weather-protected hardtop version crafted from carbon fibre, with a retractable roof for sunny days. A spacious cockpit provides seating for up to eight people on three individual seats and an aft sofa. A sunbed provides space for two. The forward cabin sleeps up to two adults and two children.
The Candela C-8 Polestar edition is available online in the Polestar Additionals webshop, or at Candela.com, and is sold and delivered by Candela. Pricing starts from EUR 400,000/ USD 450,000. Production takes place at Candela’s factory in Stockholm, Sweden, and deliveries are expected from June 2024.
More information is available at Candela.com and http://www.polestar.com/polestar-candela-c8/
Media images:
https://media.candela.com/Candela-C-8-Polestar-Edition/n-VjxLtQ
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Candela C-8 Polestar Edition Specifications
Material Carbon fiber
Battery 69 kWh from Polestar 2
Weight 1600 kg version
Passengers 8 persons including driver
Length 8.50 m
Width 2.50 m
Speed 22 kn cruise, 30 kn top
Motor Candela C-Pod (75 kW for take-off)
Range 57 NM (US 65 miles) at cruising speed +3 NM at 4 kn
Draft 0.5 m in shallow mode
0,8 m while foiling
1.5 m while not foiling, foils extended
Charging 230Vx3x32A: 2,5h, DC charging 10-80% in 45 minutes
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Stockholm-based Candela Technology AB is the world leader in hydrofoiling electric vessels. The company was founded in 2014 by engineer and business leader Gustav Hasselskog with the mission to accelerate the world's transition to fossil fuel-free lakes and oceans by developing electric vessels that outperform those powered by fossil fuels.
Candela's watercraft have wings (hydrofoils) that lift the hull above the water and reduce friction, using 80% less energy than conventional ships at high speed. This technology allows for long-range water travel solely on battery power, a first in the industry. Candela's hydrofoils also enable operators to transition to sustainable fleets by providing up to 50% lower operational costs.
At the heart of Candela's hydrofoil tech stack is the Flight controller, which automatically stabilizes the vessel during flight by regulating the foils, using sensors that gauge wave height and wind speed, among other factors. Even in rough weather, passengers experience 90% less g-forces than they would on a traditional boat. All Candela vessels are fully connected and receive over-the-air updates.
After five years of research and development, Candela began producing the world's first electric hydrofoil leisure boat in 2019, the Candela C-7 open "roadster of the seas". This was followed in 2021 by the high-volume market Candela C-8, which will be delivered to the first customers in spring 2023. Over 150 C-8 units have been sold to date, and the vessel has been lauded as a "game changer" by Motorboat and Yachting magazine, winning numerous awards including the 2022 European Powerboat of the Year award for its superior seakeeping, long range, and high speed.
In 2023, Candela is launching its first commercial vessel, the Candela P-12 Shuttle ferry. It is poised to set multiple world records for being the fastest and longest-range electric ship ever built, with a top speed of 30 knots and a range of up to 60 nautical miles. It will also be the most energy-efficient fast ship ever made in its size class. Substantial operational cost savings are expected. The first unit is water launched during summer 2023.
Candela is a technology company with headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden, employing over 200 engineers, technicians, and production staff. The company develops the entire tech stack, from the C-POD motor to the control system and carbon fiber hulls, in-house. Candela's two wholly-owned factories in Stockholm, Sweden, produce the Candela C-8 and P-12 vessels. The company also has leisure boat resellers in 12 countries and wholly-owned sales offices in San Francisco, USA, and Cannes, France.
