Candela unveils electric passenger boat in Venice

Candela has unveiled its new foiling Candela P-8 Voyager passenger boat, which has been developed to replace fleets of smaller and fast combustion engine passenger craft such as yacht tenders, taxis and rigid inflatable boats.

Travelling above the water at high speeds, the Candela P-8 Voyager leaves a 5cm-high wake that is hardly noticeable by marine creatures or causes erosion to beaches or coral reefs, says the company. Thus making it particularly well suited to areas with sensitive and fragile ecosystems such as coral reefs and national parks.

The P-8 Voyager provides an eco alternative to conventional speedboats, which have hulls that displace water and form small waves that can erode shorelines and damage coral reefs and other sensitive ecosystems over time.

“From Venice to the Bahamas, it’s absurd to travel in beautiful and fragile ecosystems in speedboats that burn 200 litres of petrol per hour and make huge wakes,” says Erik Eklund, Candela’s chief executive of commercial vessels. “With the Candela P-8 Voyager, we wanted to make a no-compromise electric exploration vessel. You have the performance, can cruise for well over 2 hours, but there’s virtually no negative impact on the environment.”

The C-Foil hydrofoil system on the P-8 Voyager has been developed by Candela’s engineers with experience from the drone, aerospace, and software industries. At 16 knots, the onboard flight controller automatically changes the foil’s angle of attack to provide the lift needed for take-off. Once foilborne, the flight controller uses sensors to gauge wave height and ensure a smooth flight. Reacting in real time, adjustments to roll, pitch and height are made 100 times per second.

“You get the seakeeping ability of a 100-foot ship in a 28-footer,” continues Eklund. “Foiling in bad weather will be the ultimate experience of nature. Taking in the dramatic scenery, breaking waves and all, while safely flying over it in absolute silence. This is a new level of luxury that, I dare say, has never been experienced at sea.”

Candela’s ultra-compact C-Pod motor was specifically developed for the hydrofoiling craft. Twin, submerged motors directly drive counter-rotating propellers. There’s no transmission, and, therefore, no noise, oil or cooling fluid, and no need for maintenance. Drawing only about 25kW from its C-Pod motor when cruising at 20 knots, it can run for 3,000 hours without service, which, the company says, makes the P-8 Voyager a good choice for operators in remote locations.

Eklund explains: “For commercial operators to go electric, we knew the service aspect was important. No matter if you run a taxi boat business or if you’re a superyacht captain – our aim is to minimise maintenance and to provide hassle-free ownership.”

Carrying six passengers and two crew, Candela claims the P-8 Voyager has two or three times’ longer range than any other electric speedboat. With its C-Pod motor at full rev, the P-8 tops out at 30 knots and has a range of 50 nautical miles at cruise speed – reportedly faster and further than any other electric boat. According to Candela, it doesn’t have to slow down for waves either – the vessel can fly in 4ft to 5ft chop without slamming.

When moored, the hydrofoils fully retract into a hull recess for easy storage and to prevent marine growth. The P-8 Voyager is fully connected and updated wirelessly, enabling Candela’s service department to perform remote troubleshooting.

Production of the Candela P-8 Voyager is planned for autumn 2022.