Fredrik Thornell/ Green City Ferries
Coming this fall, residents in Stockholm won’t have to endure the hour-long commute by car or train between Ekerö, a popular suburb, and central Stockholm, home to the historic City Hall.
Instead, they can jump on a 30-passenger ferry and make the journey in half the time, all while helping to cut down on carbon dioxide emissions.
This isn’t your run-of-the-mill diesel ferry. It’s the P-12, an electric ferry that hovers just above the surface of the water, like a landspeeder straight out of “Star Wars.”
Created by Candela, a Swedish company that’s been finetuning the technology since 2016, the P-12 uses a hydrofoil to lift the boat above the water’s surface, reducing drag and the amount of energy needed to operate it. “The hydrofoil system cuts energy consumption by 80% compared to fossil fuel-powered vessels,” says Gustav Hemming, vice president of the Regional Executive Board in Stockholm who is responsible for sea-bound public transport. “That number is obviously huge, and a game-changer for waterborne transport.”
It’s not just better for the environment — a 2022 study by Stockholm’s KTH Royal Institute of Technology found that the P-12 emits 97.5% less carbon dioxide emissions than diesel ferries — but also allegedly gives a smoother ride, what Hemming describes as a “magic carpet” experience.
“By flying above the water, the P-12’s hull is lifted above the friction from the water,” he says. That means less noise, a steadier ride, and none of the diesel fumes that keeps some people away from ferry travel. “The foil technology works much like aircraft wings that provide lift as water flows over them and creates a pressure difference,” Hemming adds.
