Press release -
Electric, foiling daycruiser Candela C-8 debuts at CES
Production Version of Candela C-8 Debuts at CES
The Candela C-8 represents the future of sustainable waterborne travel, achieving maximum efficiency, speed, and range with hydrofoils that allow it to silently fly above the water and waves.
STOCKHOLM, Nov. 10, 2022 – Swedish company Candela will unveil the production version of its revolutionary electric hydrofoil C-8 watercraft at the technology world’s mainstage–CES 2023–in Las Vegas on January 5, 2023.
The premium 28-foot craft, with a top speed of 30 knots and the ability to cruise for over two hours at 20 knots, is the first production day cruiser equipped with Candela’s electric hydrofoil system that reduces water friction by 80 percent. The hydrofoils are the key to cracking the code for electric-powered, long-range, high-speed travel at sea, which Candela believes will change boating forever.
“With the C-8, we set out to make the first no-compromise electric boat with maximum range and speed, but we’ve ended up with a new and improved class of craft, which also happens to be electric,” said Gustav Hasselskog, Candela’s founder, and CEO. “It’s a far superior experience to old-school hulls with combustion engines. Boaters no longer must contend with vomit-inducing pitching and slamming, or the deafening roar from revving outboard engines. Once you’ve experienced flying above the surface in absolute silence, it’s hard to go back.”
After the successful launch of its first electric hydrofoil boat, the limited series Candela C-7, in 2019, Candela’s 50-strong team of engineers spent two years perfecting the hydrofoil system and software to create the high-volume production C-8. At the heart of the technology is Candela’s C-Controller, an onboard computer that uses inputs from a variety of sensors to adjust the boat’s hydrofoils in real time to balance the craft in waves, wind, and different loads. Featuring a 100% carbon fiber hull, the C-8 is powered by the Candela C-POD, a specially designed, 55kW direct-drive electric motor that requires no scheduled maintenance for 2,000 hours.
The hydrofoils can be retracted for entering shallow harbors or easy trailering, and in extreme wave heights, the boat can be driven as a traditional planing hull craft, albeit less efficiently. The C-8 has a draft of fewer than two feet with the hydrofoils retracted.
The C-8 features a large, comfortable cockpit with seating for eight, a large sunbed, a spacious front cabin equipped with beds for two adults and two kids, and a marine toilet. All settings on the C-8, from turning on the cooler to navigation, are controlled from the boat’s 15.4-inch touchscreen or remotely from the Candela app. The C-8 can be configured with a hard top, a T-top, or an open cockpit day cruiser and starts at $390,000.
“Real change won’t come from people making selfless choices. People will only go for the sustainable option if it’s better and more fun. That’s how we can make a difference. Hence, the C-8 is climate action, made fun,” said Hasselskog.
While the C-8 is a “halo” leisure boat, Candela also has plans to transform public water transportation. Unveiled earlier this summer in Venice, the Candela P-8 Voyager is designed to replace traditional water taxis and commercial passenger watercraft that create water pollution, engine noise, and waves that damage historical architecture. Furthermore, the City of Stockholm will take delivery of the first Candela P-12, a 30-passenger, all-electric water shuttle in 2023. The company is in talks with over 100 other municipalities about water transportation solutions.
To learn more about Candela, please visit Candela.com. Editorial media assets are available here.
# # #
Media Contacts:
Mikael Mahlberg, mikael.mahlberg@candela.com
Austyn Dineen, austyn.dineen@backbone.media
About Candela
Candela's mission is to speed up the transition to fossil fuel-free lakes and oceans.
Zero emissions, zero noise, zero seasickness, zero maintenance, zero gas and oil, and zero wake, but 100% fun. Candela was founded in 2014 by CEO Gustav Hasselskog, employs 180+ persons, and has offices in Stockholm, San Francisco, and Cannes. Production takes place in Stockholm.
Candela’s boats are up to 95% more energy efficient than conventional ICE boats, and offer passengers a smoother, quieter experience on the water because they fly above it instead of crashing through the waves. Propulsion comes from Candela’s compact C-POD electric motors, which stay fully submerged while running, further eliminating noise and vibrations onboard, plus they’re designed to run for a lifetime without ever requiring maintenance.
Candela is the world's first maker of electric hydrofoiling boats and ships.
Related links
Topics
Stockholm-based Candela Technology AB is the world leader in hydrofoiling electric vessels. The company was founded in 2014 by engineer and business leader Gustav Hasselskog with the mission to accelerate the world's transition to fossil fuel-free lakes and oceans by developing electric vessels that outperform those powered by fossil fuels.
Candela's watercraft have wings (hydrofoils) that lift the hull above the water and reduce friction, using 80% less energy than conventional ships at high speed. This technology allows for long-range water travel solely on battery power, a first in the industry. Candela's hydrofoils also enable operators to transition to sustainable fleets by providing up to 50% lower operational costs.
At the heart of Candela's hydrofoil tech stack is the Flight controller, which automatically stabilizes the vessel during flight by regulating the foils, using sensors that gauge wave height and wind speed, among other factors. Even in rough weather, passengers experience 90% less g-forces than they would on a traditional boat. All Candela vessels are fully connected and receive over-the-air updates.
After five years of research and development, Candela began producing the world's first electric hydrofoil leisure boat in 2019, the Candela C-7 open "roadster of the seas". This was followed in 2021 by the high-volume market Candela C-8, which will be delivered to the first customers in spring 2023. Over 150 C-8 units have been sold to date, and the vessel has been lauded as a "game changer" by Motorboat and Yachting magazine, winning numerous awards including the 2022 European Powerboat of the Year award for its superior seakeeping, long range, and high speed.
In 2023, Candela is launching its first commercial vessel, the Candela P-12 Shuttle ferry. It is poised to set multiple world records for being the fastest and longest-range electric ship ever built, with a top speed of 30 knots and a range of up to 60 nautical miles. It will also be the most energy-efficient fast ship ever made in its size class. Substantial operational cost savings are expected. The first unit is water launched during summer 2023.
Candela is a technology company with headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden, employing over 200 engineers, technicians, and production staff. The company develops the entire tech stack, from the C-POD motor to the control system and carbon fiber hulls, in-house. Candela's two wholly-owned factories in Stockholm, Sweden, produce the Candela C-8 and P-12 vessels. The company also has leisure boat resellers in 12 countries and wholly-owned sales offices in San Francisco, USA, and Cannes, France.
