By Sahil Gupta
Stockholm-based Candela which is the world leader in hydrofoil electric boats that fly above the surface of the water to consume less energy has showcased a new boat which is based on an electric power train. The Candela P-8 Voyager has been designed to replace traditional water taxis and commercial passenger water carts that have relied on the combustion engine. The boat which has been unveiled in Venice is based on the same foundation as the C8 electric speedboat.
The P8 relies on a hydrofoil system which is used on other electric boats by the brand. It has been designed by more than 50 engineers who have experience in the drone, aerospace and software industries. The onboard flight controller changes the foil angle of attack when the boat reaches the speed of 16 knots allowing it to lift off and fly above the surface of the waves.
“You get the seakeeping ability of a 100-foot ship in a 28-footer, really. 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,” said Erik Eklund, the chief of commercial at Candela.
The flight controller for the boat relies on a wide array of sensors to gauge the wave height and ensure a smooth ride even in adverse conditions. The system can handle four to five-foot-long chop and boat wakes thanks to its high ride height and quick adjustments to roll, pitch and elevation that happens 100 times per second.
The system is also used for areas that are sensitive to boat wakes such as Venice itself. The hydrofoil system has almost zero wakes and the hydrofoils are not larger than Venice’s famous gondolas.
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The boat has a top speed of 30 knots
Te P8 voyager has been designed to be very light on maintenance. The Candela C-Pod motor has been specifically developed for the company’s hydrofoiling watercraft. It has a pair of submerged motors which provide 50 kW of power and directly drive the counter-rotating propellers without the need for any transmission.
This also means no oil, no noise and no cooling fluid which means no maintenance. It can also run 3,000 hours without service with is 30 times higher than any internal combustion-based system.
It is also a fully connected boat and supports OTA updates enabling Candela’s 24/7 service department to perform 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 Eklund.