Swedish electric boat manufacturer Candela has demonstrated the tremendous potential of its electric hydrofoiling boats by destroying the world record for the longest distance driven by an electric boat in a 24-hour period.
Candela, which has made a name for itself in the electric mobility sector with its electric hydrofoiling boats – as well as partnerships with electric vehicle manufacturer Polestar – used the latest version of its C-8 electric hydrofoiling to set the astonishing new world record.
The world record for longest distance travelled by an electric boat in 24 hours was previously set by Canadian firm Voltari in the Voltari 260 electric speedboat, with a distance of 146 kilometres, or 79 nautical miles.
The new record, however, set by the Candela C-8 – which glides over the water’s surface using hydrofoils instead of having to push through the water – is 777 kilometres, or 420 nautical miles.
“This feat shows that fast, electric waterborne transport over long distances is viable today, not a distant future” said Gustav Hasselskog, Candela’s CEO and founder, who piloted the C-8 during the record attempt.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTAtK5fxDWY
The C-8 uses batteries manufactured by Northvolt and supplied by partner Polestar, which also allows for DC fast charging. Charging was conducted using Northvolt’s 281 kWh Voltpack mobile battery storage system and a Plug DC charger.
With an average speed of 17 knots over the 24-hour run – equivalent of travelling from London to Amsterdam and back again – the journey required only €120 worth of electricity. For a comparison, the same journey using a conventional fossil fuel boat would have used fuel costing around €1400.
The 24-hour endurance test took place along a repeating loop between Stockholm and the island of Tynningö, with charging after each lap. During the 24 hours, the C-8 was charged for a total of 313 minutes and received a total of 615kWh of power, at around 18 minutes per charging stop.
Candela hopes that this new record will help to demonstrate the viability electric water transport across Europe.
“With a relatively modest investment, charging stations could be built to fully electrify marine transport in the Stockholm archipelago,” said Hasselskog.
“For a few hundred million euros, a charging network covering Europe’s coastal passenger transports would become a reality.”
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.