Tourists and commuters along Norway’s stunning coastline will soon travel aboard “flying” electric ferries—quietly whizzing above the water to their destinations.
A Norwegian leader in sustainable transport, Boreal AS, has ordered 20 electric hydrofoil vessels from Candela Technology, with deliveries next year from the Swedish company that will launch the world’s largest electric fleet.
Water travel is an essential part of daily transportation along Norway’s fjord-lined coast and the “uniquely fast” hydrofoils will speed up commute times. (Watch the video at the bottom…)
Electrifying passenger boats has been challenging—because E-ferries have lacked the range and speed to replace diesel-powered vessels connecting towns across Norway’s 62,000 miles of coastline (100,000km).
The Candela P-12 solves this: it combines a cruising speed of 25 knots with a range of around 40 nautical miles, enabling electric operation on routes previously only served with diesel fuel, according to a company press release.
“Candela P-12 is the only electric passenger vessel that combines longer range with high speed without requiring extensive charging infrastructure,” said Boreal CEO, Nikolai Knudsmoen Utheim.
“Our investment will enable new high-speed routes both in cities and in rural areas.”
“Norway has already led the electrification of maritime transport. With this fleet, Boreal wants to take the next step—accelerating zero-emission high-speed travel.”
The P-12’s unique performance comes from computer-controlled hydrofoils—wings mounted beneath the hull—that lift the vessel above the water at speeds above 18 knots. By flying above the waves, drag is drastically reduced, and energy consumption drops by around 80 percent compared with conventional vessels of similar size.
Furthermore, the efficient P-12 can fully recharge in an hour using standard DC car fast chargers, avoiding the expensive megawatt-scale charging systems required by conventional electric ferries.
The capability was recently demonstrated during a voyage between Sweden and Norway, when the P-12 completed the longest electric sea journey to date, recharging along the route using a mobile battery system transported by a Ford F-150 Lightning pickup.
Passengers will also see a major upgrade in comfort. The vessel’s digital flight controller reads wave conditions using sensors and adjusts the hydrofoils in real time, ensuring a smooth ride even in rough seas.
Indeed, Candela’s EU Director Alexander Sifvert touted the upcoming ferry journeys as “free from seasickness and without the negative impacts of wake and emissions on the unique Norwegian fjords.”
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Recent tests in Stockholm showed that wakes from the P-12 measured just 13 cm (5 inches), which the company compared to “a small dinghy with an outboard motor”.
Cabin noise tests confirmed cabin noise levels of just 64 dB—which is lower than modern trains, aircraft, or ferries.
With 99% of new car sales in Norway already fully electric, it makes sense that the backbone of the nation’s rural transport—“hurtigbåtar”—should also be cleaner and greener and lifted into the 21st century.
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