The Candela P-12, an electric ferry, operating on the waterways of Stockholm’s public transport system has been declared a major success in the Swedish Transport Administration’s official report.
The P-12 has halved travel times, reduced emissions and even satisfied passengers.
Its deployment comes with significant economic gains, prompting politicians to declare it a paradigm shift in how urban waterways can be used.
CANDELA P-12 ELECTRIC FERRY ON STOCKHOLM WATERWAYS
Ferries in Stockholm — dubbed the Venice of the North — account for nearly half of the region’s total public transport emissions, yet attract relatively few passengers due to slow journeys and limited daily departures.
To address this issue, the city introduced a fully electric hydrofoil ferry, the P-12, into regular SL public transport service on Route 89 between the suburb of Ekerö and central Stockholm.
According to newly released report, travel time was reduced from 55 minutes to around 30 minutes, while carbon dioxide emissions were cut by 94% compared to diesel vessels.
AN INNOVATIVE VESSEL
The P-12 is the first vessel of its kind in serial production. By “flying” above the water on computer-controlled foils, it dramatically reduces water drag and energy consumption compared to conventional vessels.
This enables long range and high speed on battery power alone, while delivering a quiet ride and extremely small wakes — allowing the P-12 to operate at higher speeds within the city under a speed exemption.t
The craft’s wakes measure just 13 cm — comparable to a small dinghy with an outboard motor — and significantly smaller than conventional vessels of similar size.
The report recommends future speed limit exemptions are considered, to further accelerate waterborne transport in the city.
Sound measurements showed the P-12 to be as quiet as a car on summer tires traveling at 45 km/h (25 mph), and barely audible from 25 meters away.
The only noticeable sound is the gentle splash of water as the foils cut through the surface.
THUMBS UP FROM PASSENGERS
Ridership on the line increased by 22.5%, with the novel experience attracting both commuters and tourists.
Ninety-five percent of passengers rated the experience positively, outperforming other modes of transport in the city.
“We’re extremely pleased that the official evaluation confirms what passengers and operators have already experienced — that the Candela P-12 can transform urban waterways. By combining high speed, minimal energy use, and near-zero emissions, we can unlock faster, cleaner, and more cost-efficient waterborne transport for cities worldwide” says Gustav Hasselskog, Candela’s founder and CEO.
CANDELA P-12: A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION
The report also concludes that, unlike conventional electric ferries that require extensive charging infrastructure, the P-12 system combines low infrastructure costs with lower operating and maintenance costs than diesel ferries.
A simulation replacing the two current diesel ferries with six P-12 vessels showed that departures could increase to every 15 minutes instead of once per hour, passenger capacity would grow by 150%, and total socioeconomic benefits could reach SEK 119 million (€12 million), while reducing overall cost per ride.
The P-12 is already in serial production, in Stockholm, Sweden. In fact, Candela’s Stockholm factory is ramping up output, to 40 vessels per year. Deliveries are to customers in Mumbai, the Maldives, Thailand and Berlin.
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