Stockholm has a new all-electric hydrofoil ferry that speeds across the harbor and, while it won’t stop on a dime, runs on not much more. The operating company for the pilot project says the cost for the renewable electricity is about $14 per trip; the fare is just under $4 for each of the 25 passengers.
The ferry’s run from central Stockholm and the suburb of Ekerö takes about 30 minutes, about half the time of the conventional ferries. The hydrofoil’s computer-controlled wings lift its hull above water, reducing energy consumption by 80 percent compared to conventional vessels. Stockholm currently has 70 conventional ferries.
Gustav Hasselskog, CEO of Candela, the company that’s operating the ferry says “This is a paradigm shift for urban transport and a revival of our waterways. Today, our waterways are underutilised due to the high costs, wake concerns, and emissions of traditional vessels. If we can unlock this potential, we can make cities more attractive.”
