Flying electric boat company Candela soars closer to its 30-passenger vessel
Swedish electric boat maker Candela is flying high recently, and not just on its hydrofoils. The company has just announced a new $20M investment that will accelerate the rollout of its upcoming 30-passenger electric ferry, the Candela P-12 Shuttle.
Candela has spent years developing and producing electric hydrofoil boats that have so far been used primarily for recreational boating.
Now the company’s P-12 electric ferry is set to bring the same benefits of Candela’s existing designs to the world of commercial boating.
Hydrofoil boats are more efficient than traditional boats because they are designed to reduce drag and increase speed by lifting the hull out of the water. The hydrofoil, which is a wing-like structure mounted on struts below the hull, creates lift when it moves through the water, similar to how an airplane wing creates lift in the air. This reduces the amount of surface area in contact with the water, which in turn reduces drag and improves efficiency.
Because the boat is lifted out of the water, it also experiences less resistance from waves, resulting in a smoother ride and less energy consumption. That means that Candela’s boats are not only much more efficient than conventional combustion engine boats with traditional V-hulls, but they are also several times more efficient than most other electric boats on the market today.
For a commercial operator, that efficiency and comfort make a huge difference in operations. And now that Candela has landed a new round of investment totaling SEK 210 million ($20M), the P-12 is even closer to production.
The investment round was co-led by EQT Ventures and investor duo Joel Eklund (Fosielund Holding AB) and Svante Nilo Bengtsson (Marknadspotential AB), with participation from Ocean Zero LLC, among others.
Candela tells us that the funding will be used to bring Candela’s game-changing, foiling 30-passenger ferry Candela P-12 Shuttle to mass production in the company’s new Stockholm factory.
As CEO and founder Gustav Hasselskog explained, the P-12 will be more than just quicker and cheaper than land transportation; it will also be immediately profitable for the transportation companies that operate it.
This new investment will unlock the potential of underutilized waterways for climate-friendly, high-speed commuting. The P-12 Shuttle will in many cases be faster and cheaper than land transport like bus lines, and it will be profitable for operators from day one.
The cost-effective alternative form of transportation uses its high efficiency to reduce operating costs and bring down the high initial upfront cost of many electric boats that would normally require much larger batteries.
Because the P-12 will use 80% less energy than traditional vessels, its economical battery will still provide a record range of 60 nautical miles on a single charge when cruising at a speed of 27 knots.
The Candela P-12 is expected to launch this summer, when the company says it will become the fastest and longest-range electric passenger vessel in the world.
The advantages of the boat’s electric hydrofoil design primarily benefit its occupants and operators, though the shift away from combustion engine vessels is also a major benefit to the climate. A recent life cycle analysis by Stockholm’s Royal Institute of Technology concluded that a P-12 ferry will emit 97.5% less carbon dioxide over its lifetime compared to a diesel vessel of the same size, including its emissions from production, operations over 30 years and recycling.
I’ve had the opportunity to test out two of Candela’s current models, the C-7 and C-8 electric hydrofoil boats.
Both vessels left me quite impressed (and also made me look good with their ultra easy-to-use controls), though the C-8 was my clear favorite. The larger vessel is even smoother, quieter, and more capable, flying higher above the surface to clear choppier waters. I was able to cut across the wakes of everything from speed boats to cruise ships with only the slightest movement of the boat. A V-hull boat would have been crashing up and down when crossing the same wakes.
In fact, you can check it out in the video of my most recent testing experience below. It’s a doozy to see the two different styles of boats sailing side by side.
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On today’s informative episode of Quick Charge, we’ve got Honda engineers Jason Hwang and Emilio Sanchez to talk us through some of the things that make the GM Ultium-based Honda Prologue EV feel like a real Honda, and why that matters.
Jason and Emilio talk about some of the choices they made to make the Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX feel different from its GM-branded cousins, and explain why this was much more than a case of badge-engineering. Give it a listen, then let us know what you think of the Prologue and ZDX in the comments.
Today’s episode is sponsored by BLUETTI, a leading provider of portable power stations, solar generators, and energy storage systems. For a limited time, save up to 52% during BLUETTI’s exclusive Black Friday sale, now through November 28, and be sure to use promo code BLUETTI5OFF for 5% off all power stations site wide. Learn more by clicking here.
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Read more: All my favorite EVs, racecars, and robots from Electrify Expo Austin.
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The first EV charging hub funded by the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Program in the Eastern US is now online in Deerfield, Massachusetts.
The town installed the region’s first DC fast chargers (four ports), along with four Level 2 chargers, at 59 North Main Street in South Deerfield.
These new charging stations, funded with $2.46 million from the CFI program, are conveniently located near Interstate 91 in Franklin County, the most rural county in Massachusetts, which serves drivers from Connecticut up to the Canadian border.
The hub also features local and regional bus stops and designated bike lanes with secure onsite bike racks. The chargers are meant to cater to everyone: from local residents and visitors to municipal EVs and commercial vehicles that service the region’s businesses, like those in food and beverage manufacturing.
Gabe Klein, executive director of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, sees this as a model for future projects:
Multi-modal charging hubs in communities are key to giving more people the choice to ride and drive electric. The Town of Deerfield is showing leadership in building out convenient charging infrastructure that brings new transportation choices to rural and disadvantaged communities while supporting local commerce.
In recent years, Deerfield has experienced increased climate change-driven flooding from nearby rivers, including the Deerfield River, the Connecticut River, and the Bloody Brook. The project incorporates environmental engineering designed to mitigate and adapt to the effects of flooding and climate, including the installation of permeable asphalt and rain gardens, planting of native trees, grasses, and shrubs, and the creation of new greenspace in the center of Deerfield.
The Biden-Harris administration’s CFI Grant Program is expanding EV infrastructure nationwide. It offers grants for projects that complement and expand upon the initiatives of the NEVI program in urban, rural, and disadvantaged and low-income communities. So far, the CFI Grant Program has allocated over $1 billion to nearly 100 projects across the US, encouraging private investments and expanding the EV charging network to make EV ownership more practical and convenient.
Read more: The US reaches milestone of 200,000+ public EV charging ports
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Kia’s upcoming EV4 electric sedan was just spotted testing in the US for the first time. The low-cost EV is expected to make its big debut by the end of the year. Here’s a look at the new model.
The EV4 will round out Kia’s new “EVs for all” master plan launched last year. Kia showcased three new models, the EV3, EV4, and EV5, during its first annual EV Day in October 2023.
During the event, Kia outlined its new global strategy to “lead and accelerate the EV revolution” with a wide range of models priced from $30,000 to $80,000.
Kia plans to rapidly expand its lineup with a series of smaller, lower-priced models. It launched the EV9, its first three-row electric SUV, which is already proving to be a hot seller in the US. Starting at under $55,000, the EV9 is still a great deal compared to others in its class, but Kia plans to go even lower.
The EV3 and EV4 are expected to be among the most affordable electric vehicles when they arrive in the US.
Kia’s new EV4 is now testing in the US
Ahead of its official debut, Kia’s new EV4 sedan was recently caught driving on US streets for the first time.
The latest image from KindelAuto doesn’t reveal much more than what’s been shown in the past, but the fact that it’s now testing in the US is significant.
Kia’s EV3 is already on sale in Korea, starting at around $30,000 (42.08 million won). Earlier this week, the company said its new compact SUV is now available across Europe, starting at around $38,000 (36,000 euros) with a “segment-leading range” of up to 375 miles (WLTP).
Next up will be the EV4. Kia is expected to officially reveal the new EV by the end of the year, with deliveries starting in 2025. It could be as soon as next week at the 2024 LA Auto Show.
The interior will feature Kia’s advanced new ccNC infotainment system with dual 12.3″ navigation and driver display screens. An otherwise minalimalistic design is expected inside.
Kia’s EV4 will also be available in a hatchback variant. Although the hatch is likely aimed at European buyers, it was also recently spotted testing in the US for the first time.
We will learn official prices closer to launch, but the EV4 is expected to start at around $35,000 to $40,000.
Kia is teasing five new vehicles for the US, at least one being a new EV, that will debut at the LA Auto Show next week. Will it be the EV3? EV4?
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