Candela introduces the P-8 Voyager water taxi that uses the electric hydrofoil system and flies above the water surface.
Swedish electric boat maker, Candela Technology AB, unveiled its P-8 Voyager water taxi, an electric boat that flies above water.
On Monday, the 28-foot P-8 Voyager was revealed in Salone Nautico in Venice, Italy. The boat will be based on the same foundation as Candela’s best-selling C-8 speedboat.
According to Candela, the P-8 Voyager leaves almost no wake in the water as it mostly glides over the surface using its hydrofoil technology. The boat will be advantageous in Venice as the city’s famous canals create a constant barrage of waves that wash up against walls and damage structures over time.
“You get the seakeeping ability of a 100-foot ship in a 28-footer, really. Foiling in bad weather will be the ultimate experience of nature. Taking in the dramatic scenery, breaking waves and all, while safely flying over it in absolute silence.” Candela’s chief of commercial vessels, Erik Eklund, said according to electrek.
“This is a new level of luxury that, I dare say, has never been experienced at sea,” Eklund added.
The company claims that the hydrofoil system is the key to a long all-electric range at sea. Candela’s electric hydrofoil system reduces water friction by 80% compared to a planing boat. Candela said that the onboard Flight Controller constantly and automatically adjusts the hydrofoils to maintain a superbly stable ride in all weather conditions.
The boat is also designed with a cabin that can carry up to six passengers. It provides a peaceful environment even in rough conditions and at high speeds. It will also be suitable as a water taxi. It has innovative sensors that measure wave height and height above it to ensure passengers don’t get seasick.
The P-8 Voyager is also designed to glide above the water, taking off from the surface when it hits 16 knots (30 kilometers per hour). The P-8 is significantly silent compared to other commercial boats. This will positively impact the marine environment, as sound pollution from fossil-fuel engines can cause significant problems for marine wildlife.
“The P-8 Voyager was designed to take you and your passengers to the places you love on the water without leaving a trace,” said Gustav Hasselskog, CEO & Founder of Candela.
The boat also has a significantly longer range. A 2-hour charging time can reach more than 50 nautical miles at high speed.
The P-8 Voyager is also designed to be maintenance-free as much as possible. It uses the Candela C-POD, which Candela claims is the most efficient and longest-lasting boat motor ever made.
The production for the Candela P-8 Voyager will start in the fall of 2022.
