Electric hydrofoil boat manufacturer Candela revealed its P-8 Voyager yesterday — the world’s first electric taxi boat.
Unveiled at the Salone Nautico in Venice, a show for high-end boat builders to show off their wares, the P-8 taxi is based on the same platform as its C-8 speedboat.
According to the company, its electric hydrofoil boats have a number of advantages over traditional water taxis. For example, its C-POD motors — which look like miniature torpedos and stay submerged while the rest of the boat rises out of the water — are quieter, produce fewer vibrations and use significantly less energy whilst also pushing the boat along faster.
According to CEO Gustav Hasselskog, the boats use 80-85% less energy than traditional motorboats The boats also require less maintenance, thanks to their electric powerplants, and are 95% cheaper to operate.
“You get the seakeeping ability of a 100-foot ship in a 28-footer, really,” said Erik Eklund, Candela’s Chief of Commercial Operations.
“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.”
Thanks to its hydrofoil, which retracts into a recess in the hull above the waterline when moored to prevent marine growth, the P-8 is able to cruise at 20 knots and hit a top speed of 30 knots — 24 mph and 34 mph, respectively, for those of you who haven’t got your sealegs.
The boat will also be able to take advantage of over-the-air updates to improve performance and efficiency, as well as giving Candela’s around-the-clock service department to carry out remote troubleshooting.
“For commercial operators to go electric, we knew the service aspect was important. No matter if you run a whale-watching business or if you’re a captain of a superyacht – our aim is zero downtime on this boat due to maintenance,” said Eklung.
Keyword: World’s First Electric Hydrofoil Taxi Boat Revealed in Venice