Watch what happens when an electric hydrofoil boat hits big chop & waves

The Candela P-12 is the first hydrofoil electric ferry in the world to begin commercial operations. The 30-seat electric ferry uses a set of computer-controlled hydrofoil wings to fly above the surface of the water, resulting in a smoother and more efficient ride. But what happens when the seas get rough?

Most of the time, we see slickly edited marketing videos of hydrofoil electric boats smoothly soaring above relatively calm water. It’s an awesome visual, watching the blade-like struts that support the boat’s hydrofoils leave mere ripples on the glassy surface of the water. But it also begs the question, “What happens on anything other than a calm sailing day?”

In a recently shared video, we get a chance to see exactly what it looks like when one of those boats encounters significantly less friendly water in the Baltic Sea.

You know, the kind that would make stomachs like mine offer a refund on their lunch.

A Candela P-12 electric ferry operating in Nynäshamn, Sweden was recently filmed operating in 50 km/h (31 mph) wind that whipped up the choppy water and resulted in swells as high as 2 meters (6.5 feet).

A film team on the accompanying RIB (rigid inflatable boat) could be seen getting bounced around while the Candela P-12 ferry maintained its smooth flight over the chop and swells.

“It was such a smooth ride,” remarked one of the passengers on the ferry. “It’s actually quite nice because before we started foiling, you could really feel the waves. And then once we started going up on the foils it all disappears. And then I looked out and I can see the rib was just bouncing up and down meanwhile inside of our boat it’s smooth. It’s quite a unique experience.”

This electric ferry, named NOVA, has been operating since late 2024 when it took its maiden voyage on a route from Tappström in Sweden. There it reached its destination at Stockholm City Hall, a distance of around 15 km (9 mile), in just 30 minutes. That’s around half the time it normally takes to cover the same route by car or public transit.

Electric ferries like these are now enabling much quicker and more cost-effective commutes in areas with convenient waterways, helping to reduce both emissions and travel time for the public. With fast charging capabilities, the boats can quickly recharge while at each harbor, ensuring all-day operations. With the use of hydrofoils compared to traditional displacement ferries, the boats use significantly less energy and result in a much more comfortable ride for passengers.

Having personally piloted multiple Candela hydrofoil boats myself, I can attest firsthand to the impressive performance.

While on a trip to Stockholm, the company let me get an early test ride and take out their C-8 electric speedboat while it was still in its final stages of production. It didn’t have all of its luxury gear installed yet, but the flight system was working in true form, allowing me to slice across the wake left by cruise ships coming into port.

You can check out that experience in my video below.