On the hydrofoil, Candela’s speedboat can reach 30 knots

A speedboat came into view in the autumn sun, but it looked different from most electric boats I have seen. The Candela P-7 has the long and smooth silhouette of a traditional power boat, and I will drive it soon. The Swedish company claims that this is the world's first electric hydrofoil speedboat.

After boarding, not far from the dock, the demonstrator instructed me to fasten my seat belt. "Ready to take off?" He asked, pushing the throttle forward, like an airplane. As if to hear a prompt, there was a whirring sound, and two red hydrofoils moved down through the boat to the surface of the water, and then we walked up. 

When we headed to the Stockholm archipelago, our goal was to take the back of the passenger ship and take the wake. No heavy blows, no bumps. Candela C-7 just glides.

I took over the throttle and steering wheel. When we accelerate, the boat will temporarily feel unstable, but then we board the hydrofoil boat, the boat is steady and quiet. At first it felt as if we were sliding on two blades, albeit in a surprisingly stable manner, but as I became more accustomed to flying, this feeling gradually disappeared.

Three days later, I had the opportunity to drive the boat again under different weather conditions-it was raining. I am more confident; the freshness of riding a hydrofoil is fading. Although the cockpit was open, I was still surprisingly dry, and the splash screen in front of the steering wheel protected me.

Candela travels at a speed of 20 nautical miles per hour, which is the best speed for energy efficiency. Thanks to the fighter technology behind the ship’s software and electronics, Candela can easily handle and maintain balance.

The hydrofoil ensures reduced drag, and Candela claims that energy consumption is reduced by as much as 80% compared to other traditional shelled electric speedboats. The C-7’s 40kWh battery is relatively light, and with its lightweight carbon fiber hull, it can easily reach 30 knots.

Back on the dry land of the factory, I watched the craftsmen working on Candela’s new ship C-8, a day cruiser. The top speed is also 30 knots, even though it can accommodate up to 6 adults and 2 children.

The faces of the men and women working on the boat were engraved with concentration. Mass production is not.

However, Candela has a large order volume, especially in the United States, where it has a sales director in Silicon Valley. Although it only started producing C-7 in 2019, Hassselskog told me that the company may be profitable in 2023. Candela is moving to a larger factory north of Stockholm, but it is difficult to see how it will expand.

Up to 70% of production costs are labor. CEO and founder Gustav Hasselskog admits: "This is a very manual process, and it hasn't really expanded, so we are getting more and more understanding of how to automate production." 

Rise and fall: Candela’s P-8 sails at 30 knots on the hydrofoil

For example, for each boat, a laser-cut carbon fiber fabric mat must be manually placed into the mold. It is then vacuum bagged and poured into epoxy resin while sucking out air-this process is called bagging. Using a milking machine, someone must then trim the excess carbon fiber around the edges of the finished hull.

In C-8, Candela no longer uses carbon fiber, but instead uses metal sheets to connect the metal foil to the hull and retract the mechanism. It makes it easier to achieve consistent quality, and a method of using robots for welding has been established.

For now, Candela’s boat is very expensive. The retail price of C-7 is 250,000 euros plus VAT, and the retail price of C-8 is 290,000 euros plus VAT. Although early adopters are willing to pay, speedboat customers are very price-sensitive, and Hassselskog admits that the price is too high.

"Our goal is to reduce manufacturing costs, because the only way we can have a meaningful impact on the environment is to reduce the price of ships, for which we have to scale up," he said.

Charge and Go: Candela’s C-7

There are two ways to reduce costs: use cheaper and lighter materials, such as glass instead of carbon fiber, and use less labor-intensive manufacturing processes. For example, the arrangement of carbon fiber mats in the hull can be automated. The speedboat industry is highly fragmented and progress in automation is slow, but Hasselskog said Candela is stepping up its own research and development to speed up innovation.

Price may be important to consumers, but when it comes to passenger ferries, operating costs are important. Candela's commercial fleet P-12 (water taxi that can accommodate 12 people) and P-30 (water bus that can accommodate up to 30 passengers) enter here.

Next month, Candela will begin accepting P-12 orders. So far, more than 45 city authorities, including Venice, have inquired about and/or visited P-12. According to Candela, operating this ship can cut operators’ fuel and energy costs by 80% to 95% compared to traditional hulls and smaller-range electric ferries.  

From March next year, the smallest version of the P-30 will transport commuters from central Stockholm to a nearby island, halving the existing itinerary. This is a joint venture with the regional transportation authority.

Stockholm has one of the most environmentally friendly public transportation systems in the world. Most buses and all trains in the area run on renewable energy, but water transportation still has a long way to go.

 “We hope that more people will travel by public transportation, and we hope to increase the capacity of the waterways,” said Gustav Hemming, the regional planning chairman of the Stockholm region. 

Only three electric ferries are currently in service, and the other two are undergoing trials with transportation authorities. Compared with P-12 and P-30, they are slower and have a shorter range.

"Operating traditional commuter boats requires a lot of energy-they are not energy efficient, so we are very happy to be able to try out Candela's boats. It provides both energy-saving solutions and higher speeds."

The area did not pay for the Candela P-30, but Hemming stated that energy cost savings and fare profits may fund possible purchases. 

Starting in the second quarter of 2022, Candela’s P-12 will provide commuters with services to and from the city center

There are only 12 seats in this particular version, and it is also likely to be full. “By shifting from larger to smaller, cities can increase the capacity of ferries and even switch to systems that can be transported on demand,” explains Candela Public Transport Director Erik Eklund (Erik Eklund). 

In other words, it not only saves energy, but also opens up a world of possibilities for customers.

Candela expects to accept P-12 orders from the beginning of next month, and has received enquiries and visits from 45 city authorities, including Venice. This ship can cut operators' fuel and energy costs by 80-95%. Thanks to hydrofoils, the P-12 and P-30 can travel at an astonishing average speed of 50 km/h.

The days of slow and smelly diesel ferries are coming to an end.