Charged EVs | Norwegian ferry operator orders 20 Candela electric hydrofoil vessels

Norwegian ferry operator Boreal has ordered twenty P-12 electric hydrofoil vessels from Sweden’s Candela Technology. The new vessels will speed up commuting along Norway’s fjord-lined coast, where water travel is an essential part of daily transport.

Norway has many electric ferries in operation, but electrifying hurtigbåtar, the high-speed passenger vessels that ply many rural routes, has been challenging, as conventional e-ferries lack the range and speed to replace the diesel-powered fast ferries connecting communities along the country’s 100,000 kilometers of coastline. The Candela P-12 combines a cruising speed of 25 knots with a range of around 40 nautical miles, making electric operation practical on routes previously only served by diesel vessels.

The P-12 features computer-controlled hydrofoils—wings mounted beneath the hull—that lift the vessel above the water at speeds above 18 knots. Flying above the waves reduces drag, and energy consumption drops by around 80 percent compared with conventional vessels of similar size. The P-12 is already in successful use in Stockholm’s public transport system.

“The Candela P-12 is the only electric passenger vessel that combines longer range with high speed without requiring extensive charging infrastructure. Our investment will enable new high-speed routes both in cities and in rural areas,” says Nikolai Knudsmoen Utheim, CEO at Boreal.

The P-12 can fully recharge in an hour using standard DC fast chargers, avoiding the expensive megawatt-scale charging systems required by larger electric ferries.

“Tourists and commuters in Norway will enjoy better service and more frequent departures—free from seasickness, silent, and without the negative impacts of wake and emissions in the unique Norwegian fjords,” says Alexander Sifvert, Candela’s European Director.

Source: Candela