Swedish firm Candela’s P-12 electric hydrofoil ferry will resume regular daily operations on Stockholm’s waterways from May, following a limited five-day weekly schedule since its debut in autumn 2024. The vessel, part of the city’s public transport system, has seen strong commuter demand on Route 89, contributing to a 30% increase in ridership on the corridor.
The first operational unit, known as Nova, had been temporarily paused during the winter due to ice conditions. It will now return to service with increased capacity. Since its launch, Nova has completed 120 journeys, transporting over 2,300 passengers. Travel time on the commuter route has been halved, with trips taking 30 minutes instead of an hour, according to Region Stockholm.
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“Demonstrating that the technology is mature and fit for demanding public transport use is important,” said Gustav Hasselskog, CEO and founder of Candela. “This is the third generation of our foiling technology, and with lessons learned from producing over 100 leisure vessels, we’re scaling up production to meet demand.”
The P-12 features a cruising speed of 25 knots and uses hydrofoils to lift the hull above water, minimizing drag and energy consumption. A proprietary ‘Flight controller’ system adjusts for wave and wind conditions, reducing G-force impacts by up to 90% compared to conventional boats, the company says.
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First introduced in 2024 as Candela’s first commercial model, the P-12 builds on the firm’s earlier leisure craft such as the C-7 and C-8. The latter uses the same 69 kWh battery pack as the Polestar 2 and set a distance record of 777 km within 24 hours during a trial in 2023.
Beyond Sweden, Candela has sold P-12 units to customers in the United States, Saudi Arabia and New Zealand. While other manufacturers such as Vessev are also developing electric hydrofoil vessels, their models are currently geared more towards leisure than mass public transit.