The Swedish electric boat manufacturer Candela is expanding into India with a new order. The transport operator JalVimana in Mumbai has ordered a fleet of eleven P-12 electric hydrofoil ferries from Candela, which could be significantly expanded at a later date.
Mumbai’s waterways will soon feature eleven Candela P-12 electric hydrofoil ferries, each of which can carry up to 30 passengers. Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra, is considered India’s financial and startup capital, with an ever-growing population now at around 12.5 million people. The city is partly built around a large bay, which is now going to be utilised to alleviate congested streets by offering alternative waterways and faster journeys. JalVimana CEO Niraj Thakur announced that, while the transport operator will operate an initial fleet of 11 vessels, it has plans to grow significantly bigger.
The first vessels will run between the Gateway of India and Alibaug, which should allow commuters to avoid one of the city’s most heavily congested routes by road that typically takes 2–3 hours by car. Another route across the water will feature the Swedish hydrofoil marinecraft to connect the new airport with central Mumbai. On this route, expected travel times are to be reduced from an hour and a half to less than 30 minutes.
“This is a groundbreaking project that unlocks the full potential of Mumbai’s waterways for efficient commuting — and by investing in hydrofoil technology, the city is leapfrogging legacy waterborne transport systems,” says Gustav Hasselskog, Candela’s CEO and founder.
The electric boat utilises hydrofoil technology that lifts the hull of the vessel one meter above the water’s surface, reaching a cruising speed of 25 knots (46 kph). Candela specialises in this technology because, it says, energy consumption is reduced by 80 per cent due to the elimination of water resistance. The range possible on a single battery charge increases accordingly.
Candela has already provided electric hydrofoils for ferry transport in Stockholm, Sweden, at Lake Tahoe in the USA, Neom in Saudi Arabia and New Zealand. Hasselskog said, “We’re honoured to support Maharashtra’s bold vision and delighted that JalVimana has chosen P-12 to lead the transformation. With the P-12, we will show that our foiling electric ferries can add a vital new layer of mobility to Mumbai.”
