The world’s first ever electric hydrofoil ferry begins operations
As Candela’s P-12 gracefully flew over the waterways in Stockholm this morning, the event marked the first-ever commercial operation of a hydrofoil electric ferry.
It’s been a long time coming for the P-12, with years of development resulting in the first images of the boat released over two years ago and testing getting started only last year.
Now the first Candela P-12 in commercial operation, named “Nova”, set out this morning from Tappström, quickly reaching its destination at Stockholm City Hall. The 15 km (9 mile) journey took just 30 minutes, or around half the time it normally takes by car or public transit.
But it’s not only quicker by boat, it’s also a lot more comfortable, at least if commuters are on Candela’s boats. The P-12 electric ferry glides above the water using a set of computer-controlled hydrofoils, making the ride smoother and allowing the boat to keep up speed even in no-wake zones. That means it even arrives faster than conventional boats since it doesn’t need to slow down in no-wake areas.
The other key benefit to those hydrofoils, besides making for a super smooth ride and removing the influence of nausea in commuters who are prone to sea-sickness (like this journalist who has successfully kept his breakfast down on multiple Candela boats so far), is that the P-12 is also extremely efficient.
According to the company, those hydrofoils result in energy savings of around 80% compared to conventional boats, allowing the Candela P-12 to use a much smaller battery and significantly reducing the cost to produce and purchase. DC Fast Charging is possible from a conventional car charger located at the docks and can be done in minutes over a lunch break, meaning it won’t impact the normal timetables for the ferry.
“Conventional ships haven’t evolved much in 100 years and are among the least energy-efficient transport modes, only rivaled by a battle tank,” says Gustav Hasselskog, Founder and CEO of Candela.
That’s not an exaggeration. Stockholm’s approximately 70 public transport vessels use more fossil fuels than the city’s buses and trains combined, despite representing only a small share of total ridership. Water transport is traditionally costly and slow, as the vessels create large wakes, limiting their speed in many areas. But with Candela’s P-12 electric hydrofoil ferry, trips are now not only quicker and more comfortable, but also more efficient and with significantly lower costs. And that’s before adding in the benefits of reduced pollution and harmful emissions.
“For the first time, there is a vessel that makes waterborne transport faster, greener, and more affordable than land transport. It’s a renaissance for the world’s waterways, and it’s exciting that Stockholm is leading the way,” said Gustav Hasselskog.
Nova runs entirely on renewable energy and is the fastest electric ferry in operation in the world, cruising at 25 knots, outpacing diesel-powered V-class ferries that previously held the speed record.
This may be just the first example of commercial operations for the Candela P-12 platform, but it’s likely to soon be followed by many others after orders have been placed from Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, and Germany, among additional clients that Candela says are yet to be publicly announced.
Until then, take a look at my own test ride on the first ever production Candela C-8, a consumer electric hydrofoil speedboat that uses much of the same technology employed in the Candela P-12 electric ferry.
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Leading yard operation 3PL YMX Logistics has announced plans to deploy fully twenty (20) of Orange EV’s fully electric Class 8 terminal trucks at a number of distribution and manufacturing sites across North America.
As the shipping and logistics industries increasingly move to embrace electrification, yard operations have proven to be an almost ideal use case for EVs, enabling companies like Orange EV, which specialize in yard hostlers or terminal tractors, to drive real, impactful change. To that end, companies like YMX are partnering with Orange EV.
“This relationship between YMX and Orange EV is a significant step forward in transforming yard operations across North America,” said Matt Yearling, CEO of YMX Logistics. “Besides the initial benefits of reduction in emissions and carbon footprint, our customers are also seeing improvements in the overall operational efficiency and seeking to expand. Our team members have also been sharing positive feedback about their new equipment and highlighting the positive impact on their health and day-to-day activities.”
This Orange looks good in blue
One of the most interesting aspects of this story – beyond the Orange EV HUSK-e XP’s almost unbelievable 180,000 lb. GCWR spec. – is that this isn’t a story about California’s ports, which mandate EVs. Instead, YMX is truly deploying these trucks throughout the country, with at least four currently in Chicago (and more on the way).
“Our collaboration with YMX Logistics represents a powerful stride in delivering sustainable yard solutions at scale for enterprise customers,” explains Wayne Mathisen, CEO of Orange EV. “With rising demand for electric yard trucks, our joint efforts ensure that more companies can access the environmental, financial, and operational benefits of electrification … this is a win for the planet, the workforce, and the bottom line of these organizations.”
We interviewed Orange EV founder Kurt Neutgens on The Heavy Equipment Podcast a few months back, but if you’re not familiar with these purpose-built trucks, it’s worth a listen.
HEP-isode 26
SOURCE | IMAGES: YMX Logistics.
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On today’s thrilling episode of Quick Charge, we’ve got the all-new Hyundai IONIQ 9 and its “a “rolling living room” pivoting captain’s chairs, Kia gets a go-fast 7 passenger SUV and an updated EV6, while Honda announces plans to start producing solid-state batteries at its new facility in just a few weeks.
We’ve also got big news for American workers – a Minnesota power company is ditching coal for solar while ExxonMobil and LG Chem get to work extracting thousands of tons of lithium out of Tennessee’s soil.
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 sitewide. Learn more by clicking here.
You can watch the episode, below.
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Read more: Farm-fegnugen? Volkswagen rolls out an electric tractor.
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Arevon Energy has kicked off operations at Vikings Solar-plus-Storage – one of the US’s first utility-scale solar peaker plants.
The $529 million project in Imperial County, California, near Holtville, features 157 megawatts of solar power paired with 150 megawatts/600 megawatt hours of battery storage.
Vikings Solar-plus-Storage is designed to take cheap daytime solar power and store it for use during more expensive peak demand times, like late afternoons and evenings. The battery storage system can quickly respond to changes in demand, helping tackle critical grid needs.
Vikings leverages provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act that support affordable clean energy, strengthen grid resilience, boost US manufacturing, and create good jobs.
The Vikings project has already brought significant benefits to the local area. It employed over 170 people during construction, many local workers, and boosted nearby businesses like restaurants, hotels, and stores. On top of that, Vikings will pay out more than $17 million to local governments over its lifespan.
“Vikings’ advanced design sets the standard for safe and reliable solar-plus-storage configurations,” said Arevon CEO Kevin Smith. “The project incorporates solar panels, trackers, and batteries that showcase the growing strength of US renewable energy manufacturing.”
The project includes Tesla Megapack battery systems made in California, First Solar’s thin-film solar panels, and smart solar trackers from Nextracker. San Diego-based SOLV Energy handled the engineering, procurement, and construction work.
San Diego Community Power (SDCP) will buy the energy from the Vikings project under a long-term deal, helping power nearly 1 million customer accounts. SDCP and Arevon have also signed an agreement for the 200 MW Avocet Energy Storage Project in Carson, California, which will start construction in early 2025.
Vikings is named after the Holtville High School mascot, and Arevon is giving back to the local community by funding scholarships for deserving Holtville High students.
Arevon is a major renewable energy developer across the US and a key player in California, with nearly 2,500 MW in operation and more than 1,250 MW under construction.
Read more: Minnesota’s largest coal plant goes solar: Sherco Solar comes online
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