Swedish electric foil innovator Candela has revealed that its P-12 ferry is heading to the United States for the first time. Thanks to a partnership with Fly Tahoe, the aircraft will significantly reduce travel time for tourists heading to Lake Tahoe’s ski resorts.
Candela first revealed plans for a foil electric ferry in 2021, but what would become the P-12 has morphed into something completely different from initial renderings.
The completed airliner made its first flight in Stockholm last year and has since entered service in the Swedish capital, with company founder and CEO Gustav Hasselskog calling it a “paradigm shift in urban transport and the revival of waterways.” was predicted.
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Order books have also been published, and we’ve already seen those behind Saudi Arabia’s ridiculously ambitious Neom giga project secure eight P-12s to transport people. . Now, the “world’s first flying electric ferry” is heading to the United States, providing a quick north-south link between North America’s largest alpine lake, Lake Tahoe.
The 30-seat water taxi has enough space for ski equipment in the winter and bicycles in the summer. The combination of direct-drive electric propulsion and computer-guided wings lifts the hull out of the water at high speeds, allowing stable and efficient flight over the water while leaving little wake.
“It basically functions like a jet fighter, using ailerons to maintain balance at all times,” Hasselskog said. “The principle of the P-12 is the same, except that the wings fly through water instead of air.”
The P-12 is 39.24 feet (11.99 m) long, 14.76 feet (4.5 m) wide, and weighs 10 tons. A variety of internal configurations are possible, but Lake Tahoe will likely choose something similar to the photo below.
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The two C-POD electric drives boast a peak power of 320 kW, and the onboard battery bank is believed to be capable of a range of 40 nautical miles at service speed. DC charging up to 200 kW is supported for quick refills.
This ferry service is operated by local operator Fly Tahoe, and with a cruising speed of approximately 30 miles per hour (25 knots), passengers can fly to any of the 14 ski areas dotted around the lake within 30 minutes. I can go. In winter, you can drive around the lake in two hours.
“Ironically, millions of people, including myself, drive around Lake Tahoe to admire its beauty,” said Ryan Mainser, founder and CEO of Fly Tahoe. “However, the road sediment we produce contributes to the biggest threat to the lake’s famous cobalt blue clarity.” “Our service provides faster transportation than cars and buses while keeping the lake blue.”
The company hopes Lake Tahoe will not only save time for tourists since it doesn’t freeze, but will also provide year-round service for locals and tourists alike.
Candela’s deployment isn’t the first time we’ve seen foil electric water taxis operating in U.S. waters. For example, Seabubbles’ five-seater taxi made headlines in 2019, and Navier added another passenger to its flying party earlier this year. But the P-12, which can accommodate 30 customers and one crew member, is being touted as America’s first electric foil ferry.
It’s not clear exactly when the new service will launch, but you can see the type of experience it will offer in the video below.
The world’s first electric hydrofoil service, the Candela P-12, has officially begun operations.
Source: Candela
