Swedish tech company Candela has sold a Candela P-12 electric hydrofoiling ferry to Berlin-based passenger shipping company Reederei Riedel.
The zero-emission electric ferry will operate on a planned line to connect the East Side Gallery, near Ostbahnhof, with the cultural hub Funkhaus.
The electric hydrofoil catamaran, which can travel at 25 knots across the Spree, utilises computer-stabilised underwater wings to raise their hulls above the water, cutting energy consumption by 80% compared to conventional ships.
The hydrofoil tech cuts lifetime emissions by 97.5% compared to diesel vessels, while simultaneously allowing operators to halve costs.
Additionally, since the shuttle generates minimal wake, the P-12 has been granted exemptions from speed limits, as for example on its maiden route in Stockholm, where from July 2024 it has cut travel times in half compared to road transport and legacy diesel vessels.
Candela business development and government affairs manager, Brigitte Junker, said: “Berlin is a city with a lot of water, but this is hardly used for transport.
“We want to open up waterways for fast, emission-free transport. We need that if we want to reduce emissions and congestion on the roads.
“Operating costs would be 90% lower than diesel ships due to the low energy consumption and our maintenance-free electric C-POD motors.
“With the hydrofoil technology, we hope to change this and use mankind’s oldest transport infrastructure for fast, zero-emission commuting.”
Achievements and innovations in sustainable transport planning will be celebrated at the third annual CiTTi Awards, which will be held on 26 November 2024 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Nominations are open now! Please visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector
