Candela to Demonstrate Its Foiling Electric Ferry in Washington D.C.

Next week, Washington, D.C. will get a glimpse into the future of sustainable water transport as Sweden’s Candela demonstrates its groundbreaking P-12 foiling electric ferry on the Potomac River. The event will allow Washingtonians to witness the vessel “flying” above the water, highlighting how the city’s waterways could become corridors for faster, cleaner, and quieter commuting.

Candela’s P-12 relies on computer-guided hydrofoils, wings beneath the surface that lift the hull out of the water, cutting drag and energy consumption by up to 80% compared to conventional boats. This leap in efficiency has earned the vessel a place on TIME Magazine’s list of Best Inventions of 2025 and positioned it as a potential game changer for urban mobility.

Because the P-12 glides above the waves, it creates no wake, preventing shoreline erosion and allowing exemptions from “no-wake” speed limits that typically restrict city waterways. This capability opens the door to rapid water commutes. Candela estimates that a trip from Georgetown to Reagan National Airport could take just six minutes, compared to 20 minutes by car or 37 minutes by public transit. Meanwhile, Alexandria commuters could reach The Wharf in just 10 serene minutes aboard the P-12 Shuttle, which Candela calls the world’s fastest electric vessel.

Beyond speed, the ride is exceptionally smooth. The hydrofoils’ stabilization system eliminates slamming and seasickness, while Candela’s silent C-Pod electric propulsion ensures a vibration-free journey. With operational costs up to 60% lower than diesel ferries, the P-12 is both eco-friendly and economically competitive with buses and other land-based transit.

Following its success in Stockholm’s public transport service, where travel times were cut in half, the P-12 is expanding globally, with deployments planned for Lake Tahoe, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Mumbai. Over 40 vessels are already on order, making it the best-selling electric passenger ship in the world.

“We’re already in discussions with several U.S. companies that see the potential of using flying electric vessels to bypass congestion,” said Gustav Hasselskog, Candela’s founder and CEO. “We’re not merely replacing diesel ferries, we’re enabling a new layer of transport by utilizing underused waterways.”

Candela’s demonstration coincides with the Swedish Green Transition Summit, a forum hosted by the Sweden–U.S. Green Transition Initiative to promote collaboration on sustainable innovation. From October 17 to 23, Candela will conduct media demo rides in its C-8 foiling vessel on the Potomac River near the Embassy of Sweden, offering a firsthand look at the quiet revolution taking flight on the water.

EVinfo.net’s Take: The Exciting Electric Marine Industry is Part of the Fast-Moving, Worldwide EV Revolution

EVinfo.net reports on the exciting electric marine industry, as part of the fast-moving, worldwide EV revolution. Hydrofoils are more efficient, reducing water friction. Electric is the most efficient boating propulsion method. We congratulate Candela on its great innovations.

Pollentia, founded in 2021 by U.S. Navy vet Tyler Temple and Maximus Blackbourne, is an AI marine technology company engineering intelligence systems for high-performance vessels with precision-built models, recently celebrated one year in leading electric boating, reporting momentum, partnerships, and a mission to unify a fragmented industry. Its AI Intelligence System is billed as the “brain of the vessel,” integrating navigation, diagnostics, predictive maintenance, and over-the-air updates.

EVinfo.net reported Pollentia’s impressive momentum and industry partnerships as it marks a year leading in electric boating. Pollentia’s Ventus fleet (20–40 ft) features an onboard AI Co-Captain that manages navigation, collision avoidance, energy use, and real-time diagnostics, supports AC and DC charging, and boasts ranges up to 300 miles on a single charge.

Pollentia recently partnered with another impressive innovator, c.technology, a leading, ground-breaking cloud and platform provider for vehicle manufacturers and OEMs. It’s system is designed for vehicle OEMs to connect and manage vehicles, while delivering digital services to dealers and end customers.