The Potomac River Could Turn Into a Green Highway With This Electric Flying Ship

The waterways of cities like Washington DC, Baltimore and New York could transform into green highways with the world's first electric foiling ship, potentially cutting travel times in half. The Swedish company behind this innovation will offer demo flights to the media from October 9 to 15.

In cities like Washington DC and New York, road congestion during rush hour is a familiar sight. However, the adjacent rivers and waterways remain mostly unused for passenger traffic. Candela, a Swedish tech company, is set to change this narrative with the world’s fastest electric ship and intends to showcase its potential in the US.

Equipped with computer-controlled foils beneath its hull, the Candela P-12 Shuttle skims across the water at speeds up to 30 knots. The world's first electric hydrofoiling ship uses 80% less energy compared to traditional vessels, and offers long range at high speed. It produces neither noise nor wake, and costs much less than conventional diesel vessels to run. Stockholm is set to incorporate the first P-12 ship into its public transport system by 2024. The P-12 Shuttle’s no-wake design makes it exempt from speed restrictions in the city center. As a result, travel time from the suburbs to downtown Stockholm will be reduced from 55 minutes by car to just 25 minutes by the electric ferry.

Candela believes similar success can be replicated in the US.

Gustav Hasselskog, the Founder and CEO of Candela, remarks, "Most cities grapple with traffic congestion during peak hours while their waterways remain largely unused. Remembering that many of these cities originated around water, our vision is to convert these rivers, lakes, and seas into new, sustainable highways."

Between October 9 and 15, Candela intends to showcase its pioneering hydrofoil technology in the US. The demonstration will commence in Annapolis, just outside Washington DC, aiming to prove how the technology could offer faster transit alternatives and new direct routes.

For instance, in Washington DC, the Potomac River provides an expedient route through the city. Using the P-12 Shuttle, a water commute from Georgetown to the Ronald Reagan Washington Airport would be a mere 6 minutes, given exemption from speed limits, outpacing both cars (up to 20 minutes) and public transport (37 minutes) during rush hour. Similarly, commuters from Alexandria heading to The Wharf can anticipate a serene 10-minute ride on the P-12 Shuttle.

In New York, the Hudson River holds potential to become a green artery, providing a swift connection between outlying suburbs and the city core. With the P-12, passengers from Greenwich, Connecticut could commute to Wall Street in under an hour during rush hour, saving 30 minutes compared to conventional land-based transport and surpassing cars. Moreover, a direct P-12 ferry route could establish a brisk 20-minute link between Manhattan and Newark airport.

Candela’s C-8, which recently covered 420-nautical miles in 24 hours, setting a world record for electric range at sea, will serve as the tech demonstrator for media test rides in the US. As the ship "flies" atop the water, computer-balanced foils or "wings" adjust 100 times per second, guaranteeing a comfortable ride even over choppy waters. The Flight control system works to prevent seasickness, and Candela’s electric C-POD propulsion ensures a noiseless journey.

Gustav Hasselskog further adds, "Experiencing the thrill of silently gliding on water without generating waves is a game-changer. It becomes difficult to comprehend why waterways should have different speed restrictions compared to roads. Currently, we're engaging in discussions with numerous American operators."

The media is cordially invited to experience Candela's hydrofoil technology firsthand on the following dates and venue:

Annapolis, 9th-15th October.

For more details, please contact: Mikael Mahlberg

Email: mikael.mahlberg@candela.com

Phone: +46765376678