Press release -
Flying Electric Boats Can Turn Chao Phraya River Into a Green Expressway
A new breed of 'flying' electric vessels could provide drastically faster travel times while reducing emissions and costs from Bangkok’s waterborne transport—and elsewhere. This week, Candela will exhibit at Bangkok’s Future Mobility Asia Summit.
Bangkok boasts arguably one of the most extensive networks of waterborne transport in Asia, providing commuters with an option to bypass gridlocked roads, and offering tourists scenic views of the Chao Phraya River. Despite the city's ambitious efforts to electrify the slower vessels in the commuter fleet, the high-speed vessels still run on diesel fuel, which contributes disproportionately to emissions and harmful particles in the city.
"Conventional fast vessels are hard to electrify, as they require huge amounts of energy at high speeds. As their hulls are inefficent, batteries get drained quickly, so you either have to sacrifice range or speed," says Björn Antonsson, Regional CEO of Swedish tech company Candela’s new Asia-Pacific HQ, which is being established in Bangkok.
Candela’s vessels are the first in the world to run on hydrofoils—underwater wings that lift the hull of the vessel above the friction of water, greatly increasing efficiency. At 25 knots, Candela’s new P-12 Shuttle ferry—the first foiling electric ferry in the world—uses just 10% of the energy a conventional, similarly-sized diesel express boat would use. This leads to a long range at high speed on batteries and makes the P-12 very inexpensive to operate, providing a powerful incentive for operators to switch to a a sustainable vessel.
"The hydrofoil technology is a bit of a magic wand. By making our vessels fly, they become very efficient, and so it’s truly a clean, sustainable form of transport, but it also a superior experience for passengers," says Björn Antonsson.
Once foiling, the P-12 is stabilized in real-time by a computer system, which automatically adjusts the hydrofoils 100 times per second to keep the boat stable. The system, tried and tested in two generations of Candela’s leisure boats, keeps the P-12 stable even in waves and wind, leading to a very smooth and quiet ride for the 30 seated passengers.
"It’s often described as a magic carpet ride. You simply fly over waves and chop, and as the electric motors are very quiet, there’s no engine noise, even at 25 knots. Imagine flying at double the speed of current vessels, without feeling waves and with the same cabin noise level as a luxury car," says Björn.
Also, when the P-12 is foiling, it doesn’t create a wake, which allows it to travel at high speed without creating shoreline erosion, damaging dockside infrastructure or moored boats when passing by.
Soon, Candela intends to demonstrate the foiling experience to prospective customers in Thailand. The Candela P-12 has already been adopted for use in Stockholm’s public transport system, and recently been purchased by operators from Berlin to New Zealand. With space for 30 passengers, and storage for bikes and strollers, the P-12 would not just offer offer Thai commuters a fully emission -free way of travel but also an expected 50% reduction in travel times in many cases.
"Bangkok provides a fantastic example in connecting road and waterway public transport. If we electrify the waterways, they have the potential to alleviate road traffic and reduce overall emissions from transport", says Björn Antonsson.
But he also believes a great potential lies in one of the most scenic destinations in the world: Thailand’s island archipelagos.
"Thailand is arguably one of the most loved destinations, with pristine islands that need to be safeguarded from pollution. We offer operators oil-free vessels that create no wake, safeguarding coastlines and marine life, and they are also very economical to run; it’s a win-win-win," says Mr. Antonsson.
Between May 15 and 18, Candela will exhibit at the Future Mobility Asia Summit in Bangkok. Exclusive media experiences will be offered after the show.
Please email mikael.mahlberg@candela.com to book your slot.
Read more:
Candela P-12 cuts lifetime emissions by 97.5% compared to traditional vessels, a study by KTH University.
Associated Press:
These electric ferries may set a new standard around clean public transportation
Watch our vessels fly on Youtube:
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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.
