Candela, the Swedish electric boat maker known for its hydrofoil recreational boats and commercial ferries, is grabbing headlines yet again. This time the company is announcing the P-12 electric ferry headed to the USA. The P-12 is the first operational hydrofoil electric ferry.

In 2014, the founder of Candela assembled a group of experts within composite engineering, flight control electronics, hydrodynamics, dynamic modeling and drone control systems.

The aim was to find ways to create electric boats that could offer the elusive combination of both range and speed.

Poised to re-define maritime travel, the hydrofoiling electric boats – born from over 10,000 hours of dedicated research and sea trials in Stockholm – glide effortlessly across the water.

Combining cutting-edge electric propulsion with active stabilization, they set the bar for speed, efficiency, and durability.

The P-12 employs Candela’s sophisticated computer-controlled hydrofoil technology that allows the boats to quite literally fly several feet above the water. Traveling at 25 knots (30 mph), the P-12 is the fastest electric ferry in operation, all while using a fraction of the same energy.

The hydrofoil flight results in a much smoother ride and dramatically improved efficiency. The fast-charging electric boats can thus carry much smaller batteries, making them lighter and more cost-effective. They can then quickly recharge at the dock in a matter of minutes.

Lake Tahoe boasts over 15 million outdoor enthusiasts year-round, which has often led to severe road, especially during the winter months. The implementation of a fast and efficient new electric ferry will help avoid long car lines from snow-induced road closures, as well as grid-lock traffic during the summer months of popular biking and hiking destinations.

A local company, FlyTahoe, will offer a new 30-minute cross-lake ferry service, cutting the travel time in half compared to the daily 20,000 car trips along the same route.

In the winter, that same trip can often take over two hours due to heavy snowfall and road limitations. FlyTahoe will create a vital link to the 14 world-class ski resorts encircling the lake, making it an ideal option for both tourists and locals.

“It’s ironic that while millions, myself included, drive around Lake Tahoe to admire its beauty, the road sediment we generate contributes to the largest threat to the lake’s famous cobalt blue clarity. Our service will provide a faster transport than cars or buses, while keeping Tahoe blue,” says Ryan Meinzer, Founder & CEO of FlyTahoe.

“This is the dawn of a zero-emission revival in waterborne transportation,” says Gustav Hasselskog, Candela’s founder and CEO.

This design reduces energy consumption by 80 per cent compared to conventional boats because there is less water friction.

“This investment, made during a challenging time for many companies, is a testament to Candela’s technology and its unique ability to solve the pressing issue of decarbonizing transport,” added Hasselskog.

"This ferry holds 30 people, holds bikes, holds skis, in my case a snowboard, and we are, of course, wheelchair accessible as well," FlyTahoe CEO Ryan Meinzer said.

"That's one of our missions here. We want to make it a safe and comfortable ride that's accessible to all, locals and tourists alike. So you can imagine, if we're making six round trips a day, that's about 300 people a day."

Lake Tahoe skiers will reach the slopes faster aboard the world’s first electric hydrofoil ferry, the Candela P-12. The ferry will reduce travel times for Tahoe locals and visitors, providing a much-needed north-south connection across the lake, while also helping to cut emissions and mitigate road sediment that threatens the lake's famous cobalt-blue clarity.