Candela builds ten electric hydrofoil boats for the Maldives
In each Candela P-12, up to 30 passengers will travel from Malé International Airport to the nearby atolls. The electric vessel uses hydrofoil technology, which lifts the hull one metre above the water’s surface using wing-like foils. This allows a cruising speed of 25 knots (46 kph). According to Candela, eliminating water resistance reduces energy consumption by 80 per cent, significantly extending the vessel’s range on a single battery charge.
One P-12 already operates in public transport in Stockholm. Another identical vessel is entering service in the United States, specifically on Lake Tahoe. Recent orders for ten and eleven P-12 units have also come from Thailand and India.
“Until now, there have been no real options to electrify waterborne transport, as conventional hulls are simply too inefficient to run on battery power. With the Candela P-12, we finally have a vessel with the range and speed to replace fossil-fuel boats — while minimizing the impact on this unique environment,” said Shabir Walji, CEO of Ego Shuttle.
He added that he is proud to bring this world-first innovation to the Maldives, supporting the government’s ambitious climate policy and its commitment to achieving climate neutrality by 2030. According to Walji, the Maldives has long been a global voice in the fight against climate change.
This article was first published by Cora Werwitzke for electrive’s German edition.
0 Comments