Candela unveils long-range electric boat

Swedish boatmaker Candela has unveiled an electric hydrofoil boat in collaboration with Gothenberg-based electric car maker Polestar that has an expected range of up to 57 nautical miles per charge.

PHOTO: Candela's electric hydrofoil boat flying above the water surface. Candela

Although small-scale electric vessels like these are unlikely to make much of a difference in reducing energy consumption and global greeenhouse gas emissions, they can provide valuable technical and operational experiences for developers of bigger electric vessels.

The electric hydrofoil boat is powered by batteries from Polestar, which can be charged using direct current (DC) charging technology. Hydrofoil boats are fitted with hydrofoils or underwater wings below the hull, which lift the hull clear of the water surface while in motion. This reduces resistance and energy consumption.

The company claims the range of 57 nautical miles compares favourably with conventional combustion engine boats and is 2-3 times more than conventional electric boats. It also claims that the hydrofoil technology reduces energy consumption by up to 80% compared to traditional boats.

Candela founder and chief executive Gustav Hasselskog believes the boat “marks a significant breakthrough for electrification at sea” as it “can travel to destinations that were previously only reachable by combustion engine boats.”

By Tuhin Roy

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