Press release -
Flying Electric Ship Halves Commute Times in Washington D.C.
What if you could skip rush hour traffic and instead fly above the waves?
Next week, Washingtonians will have the chance to experience the world’s first flying electric vessel as it takes to the Potomac River — demonstrating how the capital’s waterways could unlock faster, cleaner, and quieter commuting with flying ferries.
(Media test flights available)
Thanks to computer-guided wings under the water’s surface, Candela’s vessels lift and fly above the waves, reducing drag and energy consumption by up to 80% compared to conventional boats. This revolution in efficiency has made the new Candela P-12 — the world’s first electric flying ferry — a true game changer for urban transport. It was recently named one of TIME Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2025.
The novel hydrofoiling technology allows high speeds without creating any wake, eliminating shoreline erosion and enabling exemptions from speed limits on urban waterways, which are typically governed by “no-wake” rules.
For instance, on the Potomac River, a water commute from Georgetown to Ronald Reagan Washington Airport could take just six minutes — compared to 20 minutes by car or 37 minutes by public transport during rush hour. Similarly, commuters from Alexandria heading to The Wharf could enjoy a serene 10-minute ride on the P-12 Shuttle — the world’s fastest electric ship.
Beyond speed, the P-12 offers a much more comfortable ride than noisy diesel vessels. Its computer-stabilized foils mitigate slamming and prevent seasickness, while its silent electric C-POD propulsion provides a smooth, vibration-free journey. And thanks to its low energy usage, the vessel is not only efficient — it’s also around 60% cheaper to operate than diesel ferries, making it competitive with land based forms of transport such as buses.
After proving to be a success in the daily public transport service in Stockholm, where travel times have been cut in half, the Candela P-12 is set to begin operations on Lake Tahoe next year, in addition to Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Mumbai, where fleets will be deployed. With more than 40 ships on order, Candela P-12 is the best-selling electric passenger vessel to date.
“We’re already in discussions with several U.S. companies that see the potential of using flying electric vessels to bypass congestion. We’re not merely replacing diesel ferries — we’re enabling a new layer of transport by utilizing the underused waterways,” says Gustav Hasselskog, founder and CEO of Candela.
By demonstrating its foil technology in Washington, Candela aims to show how U.S. cities can turn their waterways into fast, emission-free transport corridors — delivering both climate and quality-of-life benefits.
In conjunction with the Swedish Green Transition Summit — a high-level forum organized by the Sweden-US Green Transition Initiative to showcase innovations and foster collaboration between policymakers, businesses, and researchers to accelerate sustainable, low-carbon development — Candela will perform media demo rides in the Candela C-8 flying vessel on the Potomac River from October 17th to 23rd, adjacent to the Embassy of Sweden.
Demos:
Reach out to mikael.mahlberg@candela.com or call +46765376678 to reserve a seat on the Candela C-8.
Candela's Youtube:
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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 2022 by the high-volume market Candela C-8, which was 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 launched its first commercial vessel, the Candela P-12 Shuttle ferry. It is the fastest and longest-range electric ship ever built, with a top speed of 30 knots and a range of 40 nautical miles at 25 knots. It is also the most energy-efficient fast ship ever made in its size class. Substantial operational cost savings are expected. The first unit enters service in Stockholm's public transport system in 2024.
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.
