The Candela P-12 is an electric passenger ferry that uses computer-controlled hydrofoils to lift most of its hull above the water at speed. Its first vessel, Nova, entered Stockholm public transport service in 2024, and Candela described the P-12 as a serial-production model in February 2026—not a pre-production ferry.
How the P-12 rises above the water
Submerged hydrofoil wings beneath the hull generate lift as the ferry accelerates. Once it reaches foiling speed, the lift raises most of the hull clear of the surface, reducing the drag caused by pushing a hull through water. The boat does not become fully airborne: its foils remain in the water.
Candela says a flight controller adjusts the foils to stabilize the vessel. The company specifies significant wave heights of up to 1 metre while foiling and 2 metres when not foiling. These are design figures, not a promise that the ferry will operate in every condition; actual service depends on the sea state and operational decisions. Candela’s P-12 specifications
P-12 specifications
The following figures are from Candela’s product specifications and should be understood as manufacturer claims.
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| Specification | Candela’s stated figure |
|---|---|
| Passenger capacity | 30 passengers plus one crew member |
| Length and beam | 11.99 metres long; 4.5 metres wide |
| Propulsion | Two C-Pod motors, each rated at 110 kW continuous and 160 kW peak |
| Battery | 378 kWh nominal capacity; 336 kWh usable |
| Maximum charging power | Up to 300 kW DC |
| Charging example | Approximately 45 minutes from 10% to 85% at 175 kW |
| Service speed and range | 25 knots; up to 40 nautical miles at that speed |
| Design wave height | Significant wave height of 1 metre while foiling, 2 metres while not foiling |
Candela says the P-12 can recharge in under an hour using a standard DC fast charger. Charging time in practice depends on the charger, battery state and operating setup; the quoted figure is not a route-wide guarantee. The company also advertises an 80% energy reduction against conventional vessels on its product page. That broad product-page comparison is distinct from the Stockholm service evaluation figures below.
What Nova’s Stockholm service showed
Nova began operating in Stockholm public transport in 2024 on the route between Tappström on Ekerö and central Stockholm. Candela called it the first electric hydrofoil ferry line. The company’s launch announcement described a 15 km direct trip to City Hall taking about 30 minutes, compared with roughly 55 minutes for the previous ferry journey in the evaluation summary. Candela’s October 2024 launch announcement
Candela’s summary of an official evaluation reports the following results for the Stockholm service. These are company-reported evaluation figures, not independently verified here:
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- 66% lower energy consumption than conventional vessels.
- 94% lower CO₂ emissions than diesel operation.
- 95% of passengers rated the experience positively.
- Ridership increased by 22.5% during the test period.
- Measured wakes were 13 cm.
- Nova made 120 departures and carried 2,326 passengers in the reported seasonal summary.
A separate Candela seasonal-service summary gives a different, per-passenger comparison: 23 g CO₂ and 0.39 kWh per passenger-kilometre for Nova, versus averages of 439 g CO₂ and 3.31 kWh for other vessels on the route. These figures use a different comparison framing from the 94% emissions and 66% energy results, so they should not be treated as interchangeable. Candela’s news and service summaries
Candela also describes a modeled scenario in which replacing two diesel ferries with six P-12 vessels could change departures from hourly to every 15 minutes, increase passenger capacity by 150%, and produce SEK 119 million (about €12 million) in socioeconomic benefits. This is a simulation, not an observed result from Nova’s service.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can you ride the electric hydrofoil ferry in Stockholm?
Nova entered Route 89 service in 2024, but current timetables, fares and visitor access are not established by the cited launch and evaluation summaries. Check current Stockholm public-transport information before planning a trip; route schedules and access can change seasonally.
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How the ferry compares with conventional service
A meaningful comparison depends on more than top speed. The Stockholm figures suggest why hydrofoils interest transit operators, but their relevance to another route depends on its conditions and service design.
- Journey time: compare end-to-end travel time, not just the vessel’s maximum speed. Stops, route geometry and speed restrictions matter.
- Energy and emissions: distinguish total energy from energy or emissions per passenger-kilometre, and check the comparison period and vessel baseline.
- Capacity and frequency: the P-12’s 30-passenger capacity may support frequent trips, but a fleet-level capacity increase is not an outcome demonstrated by one ferry.
- Wake and noise: Candela reports a 13 cm measured wake in its Stockholm evaluation summary; local operating rules and measurement conditions affect what that means elsewhere.
- Charging and range: route length, available DC charging power, turnaround time and backup plans determine whether a stated range works in regular service.
- Operating conditions: wave height and other sea-state limits can constrain when a vessel foils or runs at all.
From trials to serial production
The P-12’s status has moved beyond early testing. Nova entered Stockholm public transport in 2024, and in February 2026 Candela said the model had reached serial production. The company also reported that a P-12 completed a 160-nautical-mile journey from Gothenburg to Oslo, characterizing it as a record. Candela said the voyage used standard DC fast-charging equipment, including a portable 360 kW charger and mobile battery system; this describes that journey’s setup, not necessarily the infrastructure at every route. Candela’s February 2026 company announcement
For urban water transit, the P-12’s central proposition is not simply that it is electric: hydrofoils let it travel above much of the surface drag while carrying passengers. The Stockholm service provides an example of that approach in public transport, while route suitability still turns on capacity, charging, water conditions and verified local operating results.
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