Over in Sweden, at 7:15 a.m. on a crisp Tuesday morning, Nova set off from Tappström, a quiet Stockholm suburb, gliding effortlessly over the water on her hydrofoils. Covering the 15-kilometre journey to Stockholm’s City Hall in just 30 minutes, Nova halved the typical commute time for her lucky passengers. They were part of a milestone moment that could shift how Stockholm—and cities worldwide—thinks about waterborne transit.
“This is a paradigm shift for urban transport and a revival of our waterways,” says Gustav Hasselskog, founder and CEO of Candela. For Hasselskog, Nova is more than just a ferry—it’s a vision for a new era where waterways are fully utilised to provide swift, sustainable, and congestion-free transport.
Foiling Over Challenges: Technology and Sustainability Combined
Nova is the first of Candela’s P-12 ferries to enter service, powered by hydrofoil technology that lifts the hull above water, reducing drag and energy consumption by a remarkable 80% compared to traditional boats. This is a game-changer for the world of fast ferry transport, which has traditionally struggled with the high energy demands of pushing large vessels through water at speed.
Photo Credit: Candela
“Conventional ships haven’t evolved much in 100 years,” notes Hasselskog. “They are among the least energy-efficient modes of transport—only rivalled by a battle tank.” The typical high-speed ferry burns enormous amounts of fuel to overcome water resistance, making electrification a challenge due to limited battery life. Nova’s hydrofoils solve this by allowing the vessel to skim above the water, creating almost no wake and allowing for greater speeds within urban limits.
In Stockholm, approximately 70 public transport vessels run primarily on fossil fuels, consuming more energy than the city’s buses and trains combined despite carrying fewer passengers. Traditional water transport has remained a costly and emission-heavy option, limited in speed due to the large wakes it generates. Nova’s foiling technology removes these issues, creating minimal wake and allowing her to travel at up to 25 knots—even within city limits—powered by 100% renewable energy.
A New Model For Commuting
With her futuristic design and eco-friendly credentials, Nova is more than just an impressive sight on Stockholm’s waterways. She offers a new model for how cities might ease traffic, reduce emissions, and make commuting more pleasant. In the fast-growing island suburb of Ekerö, just 15 kilometres from Stockholm’s centre, commuting typically takes an hour by bus, metro, or conventional ferry. Now, Nova slashes that travel time to 30 minutes, helping residents stay connected without the usual rush-hour delays.
“In many cities, the shortest route is over water,” Hasselskog points out. “If we can unlock this potential, we can make cities more attractive.” By making water transport competitive with land travel, Candela’s hydrofoil technology taps into the oldest form of human infrastructure—waterways—allowing cities to expand their transport options without costly dock infrastructure.
Simplicity In Charging, Efficiency In Range
One of Nova’s standout features is her simplicity and efficiency in charging. Instead of requiring specialised infrastructure, she recharges at a standard car fast charger located at Stockholm’s City Hall, using her impressive range to run a regular schedule alongside traditional diesel ferries. During her mid-day break, Nova can recharge fully, ready for the evening commute without the carbon emissions of a traditional diesel ferry.
The P-12 hydrofoil ferry will continue operations until Stockholm’s waters freeze in autumn, resuming service in the spring and running through August 2025. This trial route, a partnership between Candela, Trafikverket, and Region Stockholm (SL), aims to evaluate how hydrofoils can improve city commuting, supporting faster, more affordable, and emission-free maritime travel.
Here In New Zealand
Even before launching in Stockholm, Candela’s P-12 model has garnered international interest with orders Kiwi company, Electricity Producer Meridian. Meridian is ready to be deployed to provide daily transport for staff and contractors servicing the country’s largest hydro power station on Lake Manapōuri. It’ll save approximately 240 tons of carbon emissions each year – equivalent to taking about 52 petrol cars off the road.
Additionally to Meridian, orders have been coming in from Saudi Arabia and Berlin, with further clients mooted to be announced soon. This global reach demonstrates the appeal of waterborne transit that’s not only greener and more efficient but often faster than land-based options.
“For the first time, there’s a vessel that makes waterborne transport faster, greener, and more affordable than land transport,” says Hasselskog. “It’s a renaissance for the world’s waterways, and it’s exciting that Stockholm is leading the way.”
With Nova now flying over Stockholm’s waters, the potential for foiling ferries in urban transport is being realised. For Stockholm’s commuters, it means shorter, quieter, and emission-free journeys. For the world, Nova offers a new vision of sustainable city transport.
#Hashtags #ElectricFerry #SustainableTransport #Candela #StockholmCommute #Hydrofoil #FutureOfTransit #GreenEnergy
