VIDEO: Electric hydrofoil ferry line opens in Stockholm

An electric hydrofoil ferry line has been officially launched in Stockholm, with Candela’s P-12 Nova. Flying above the water on computer-controlled hydrofoils, Nova reportedly reduces energy consumption by 80% compared to conventional vessels.

Electric hydrofoil ferry Nova

The P-12 Nova line between Ekerö and Stockholm is a collaboration with Region Stockholm, the city’s public transport operator, to explore how Candela’s electric hydrofoil ferries can cut commute times while eliminating emissions from waterborne transportation. Departing at 07:15 from Tappström, Ekerö, the P-12 covered the 1km to Stockholm City Hall in just half an hour – cutting the regular commute time in half.

Stockholm’s fleet of 70 commuter vessels uses more fossil fuels than all other modes of transportation combined, and the Nova project aims to demonstrate that emissions can be reduced while also cutting travel times and costs, bringing waterfront communities closer to the city center.

The P-12’s debut marks the culmination of four years of R&D and testing by Candela’s engineers, transforming it from a design sketch into a fully DNV-certified vessel in commercial operation, further confirming Candela’s leading position in electric vessels.

The future of waterborne transportation

Gustav Hasselskog, CEO and founder of Candela, commented, “This day marks the beginning of a comeback for waterborne transport as vital arteries for urban mobility. For the past 100 years, the waters of Stockholm and elsewhere have been underutilized, but now we have the technology to make them competitive with land-based transport.”

In related news, Candela closed the largest funding round in its history in March 2024 with €24.5m (US$26.6m) to expand production of its P-12 ferry. Click here to read the full story.