Candela and Polestar unveil new flying electric boat based on Scandinavian design
When it comes to hydrofoil electric boats, there’s basically one company to turn to: Candela. This Scandinavian boat builder has been putting high-performance hydrofoil electric boats into customers’ marinas for years. And after recently teaming up with fellow Swedish electric automotive company Polestar, the duo have now released a new edition of Candela’s famed C-8 hydrofoil boat.
Meet the Candela C-8 Polestar edition.
Built on the same carbon fiber hull as the existing Candela C-8 and showcasing much of the same high-tech engineering, the Polestar edition combines Polestar’s Scandinavian take on luxury EV design with Candela’s innovative electric hydrofoil and boatbuilding technology.
As Polestar’s Head of Design Maximilian Missoni explained:
“Candela’s hydrofoil technology is a paradigm shift for sustainable performance in the marine industry. Like the first time driving an electric car, you instantly feel that this is the future when the boat ‘takes off’ – and now with the special gold details that we so proudly exhibit on our cars.”
Earlier this year the two companies announced a partnership to introduce Polestar’s high capacity 69 kWh electric car batteries to Candela’s hydrofoil electric boats.
Now the newly announced Candela C-8 Polestar edition further brings Polestar’s expression of Scandinavian luxury to the marine industry. A new solid grey exterior color is complemented by a lighter grey tone for interior areas that gives the boat a sleek and uniform look. The aesthetic is strengthened by the use of the same marine-certified textile everywhere, from seats, cushions and sunbeds to wall and roof panels.
Candela’s CEO and founder Gustav Hasselskog expanded on the partnership:
“Aesthetic excellence is an intrinsic value, but it can also serve as a powerful driving force towards a sustainable future. At Candela, our primary focus is to create vessels that are more compelling in every respect. I am therefore very happy about the C-8 Polestar edition and our collaboration with the brilliant team at Polestar.”
Polestar’s electric car batteries and charging hardware from the standard-range Polestar 2 help all Candela C-8s, not just the Polestar editions, achieve a range of up to 57 nautical miles (65 miles or 106 km) on a single charge while cruising at 22 knots (25 mph or 40 km/h).
Recharging takes as little as 2.5 hours on a 230V three-phase outlet or overnight on a typical 230V 16A wall outlet.
The boat’s high efficiency is possible thanks to Candela’s dual hydrofoil design that lifts the entire hull out of the water. The hydrofoils help the boat essentially “fly”, significantly reducing its energy usage. Soaring nearly a meter above the surface of the water dramatically slices the boat’s drag, using around 80% less energy than conventional boats. With higher efficiency, the C-8 can go farther with a smaller battery pack and less powerful motors than most other electric powerboats.
Candela even says that the C-8 comes with a high-speed range that is 2-3 times longer than conventional electric speedboats.
The hydrofoils can be retracted when not in use, lifting fully out of the water when docked to prevent marine buildup.
For propulsion, the Candela C-8 uses the company’s new, in-house developed 75 kW electric direct drive pod motor known as the Candela C-POD. The pod motor actually contains two counter-rotating electric motors and pairs with computer-guided hydrofoils that automatically lift the hull above the water at high speeds.
I had the pleasure of testing the first Candela C-8 prototype in the water last summer, and it’s amazing how smooth the operation was. Simply pushing the stick forward is all that is necessary, as the flight controller handles everything else to automatically “take off” and “land” the boat for you.
See my video below to check out the experience yourself.
When foiling the ride is silent and smooth, resulting in no damaging wakes thanks to Candela’s computer-stabilized foil technology.
The Candela C-8 Polestar edition comes either as an open daycruiser, a T-top version or as a weather-protected hardtop version crafted from carbon fiber, with a retractable roof for sunny days. A spacious cockpit provides seating for up to eight people on three individual seats and an aft sofa. A sunbed provides additional space for two comfortable passengers. The forward cabin sleeps up to two adults and two children.
The Candela C-8 Polestar edition is available online both from the Polestar Additionals webshop and on Candela’s website. Pricing starts from €400,000 or US $450,000. Production will take place at Candela’s factory in Stockholm, Sweden, and deliveries are expected to begin in June 2024.
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Environment
Trump approves U.S. Steel merger with Japan’s Nippon after companies sign national security agreement
European EV charging provider Allego has launched what is says is Europe’s first rollout of the “world’s safest and most secure” Plug & Charge technology.
The new tech is based on the open industry standard OCPP 2.0.1 and promises to make EV charging as easy as, well, plugging in your car. Forget apps, cards, and complicated sign-ins. If your EV is compatible, all you have to do is pull up and plug in.
Jean Gadrat, Allego’s CMO, said, “By removing digital friction points, apps, and cards, we give drivers the confidence to travel further and charge more conveniently. Whether in the city, on the highway, or abroad, Plug & Charge delivers the same secure, one-step charging experience.”
Here’s how Allego’s Plug & Charge works
Plug & Charge is an ISO 15118-based authentication and payment method built by Allego on OCPP 2.0.1, standardizing communication between OCPP-compliant chargers and networks.
Once your car is enabled for Plug & Charge, the process is completely hands-off. You plug in, and your EV and the charger swap secure digital certificates to authenticate your account. There’s no need to tap an RFID card, open an app, or even press a button.
Allego’s system supports Mutual TLS encryption and certificate-based authentication, so only authorized vehicles can charge. That means no billing mistakes or fraudulent access, which has been a big concern with some older public charging setups.
Available across Europe now
Allego’s Plug & Charge functionality is at more than 5,000 fast and ultra-fast chargers across Europe, and it also works across partner networks, deploying a truly cross-network Plug & Charge experience.
It’s a future-ready platform, too. Thanks to OCPP 2.0.1, the protocol supports remote firmware updates, advanced security, and new features as they become available. So your charger can grow along with your EV.
“As new vehicle models and charging technologies emerge, OCPP 2.0.1 ensures your car always ‘speaks the same language’ as the charger,” said Manuel Trotta, Allego’s head of mobility solutions.
Allego partnered with Alpitronic, Hubject, and Ford to bring its cross-network Plug & Charge to life.
Read more: Waffle House is getting DC fast chargers – and it’s a genius move
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Environment
The Kia PV5 is a real-life Transformer: Here’s our first look at it as an electric truck
Kia is looking to shake things up with its new custom-tailored Platform Beyond Vehicles (PBVs). The PV5, Kia’s first electric van based on the platform, is already showing how versatile it is. After the PV5 was spotted for the first time with an open bed, Kia looks about ready to drop an electric truck variant.
Is Kia launching an electric truck PV5 variant?
At the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Kia revealed its PBV strategy for the first time. The vehicles are designed as “total mobility solutions” that combine fit-for-purpose EVs with Hyundai’s latest software and tech.
Kia’s PBVs are based on Hyundai’s new ultra-flexible E-GMP.S EV platform, which can be custom-tailored for different uses. The first EV based on the platform, the PV5, launched earlier this year in the UK in two variations, Cargo and Passenger.
The Passenger model is fairly self-explanatory as a personal, everyday van, while the Cargo version is designed for commercial use.
Kia said more variants were on the way, including a refrigerated truck, chassis cab, open-bed, luxury “Prime” passenger, and sliding truck models.
The open-bed variant was recently captured driving in Korea, giving us our first look at the Kia PV5 as an electric truck.
Although brief, the video from HealerTV, taken as the vehicle was driving by, reveals a few new details. It’s our closest look at the open-bed variant so far.
Like other PV5 variants, it appears to be the same up front. In fact, it’s almost identical to the first teaser Kia showed.
It’s hard to tell from a video, but the reporter mentioned the electric truck “seemed like it was just the right size.” Since the PV5 Passenger is 4,695 mm in length, 1,895 mm in width, and 1,899 mm in height, we can expect it to be about the same size. To give you a better idea, it’s slightly smaller than the Volkswagen ID.Buzz SWB.
More variants on the way
The electric truck, or open-bed variant, comes after we saw the PV5 “Conversion,” which will feature new models, including a light camper and a camper van.
We got a preview of the camper van after Kia revealed two new “Spielraum” PV5 concepts, including one with a refrigerator, microwave oven, and even a wine cellar. And then we got a look at the PV5 “WKNDR,” an “adventure-ready” electric van concept. Kia’s electric van even has a wheelchair-friendly version, the PV5 WAV.
What’s next? Kia plans to launch a full range of electric vans. Next up will be the larger PV7 in 2027, followed by the PV9 in 2029. There’s also a smaller PV1, expected to arrive in late 2026 or early 2027.
In the future, Kia plans ot launch a Robotaxi model through a collaboration with Motional. All PBV models will be built at Kia’s Hwaseong EVO plant in South Korea. The facility can build up to 150,000 vehicles annually.
Kia said its goal is to “design PBVs that are simple and intuitive to operate and engage with, regardless of where, when or how they are used.” In other words, Kia wants to make your life easier, “Whether the purpose of the vehicle is to transport people, move goods, or meet logistics or personal mobility needs.”
In the UK, the PV5 Passenger and Cargo models start at £32,995 ($44,000) and £27,645 ($37,000), respectively.
It’s available with two battery pack options: 51.5 kWh or 71.2 kWh, offering WLTP ranges of 179 miles and 249 miles, respectively. The Cargo version gets slightly more range with 181 miles or 247 miles, respectively.
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