candela's ‘flying’ electric hydrofoil ferry arrives in berlin, cutting city commute to 10 minutes

electric hydrofoil ferry P-12 begins operations in berlin

Candela brings a fleet of its flying electric hydrofoil ferry P-12 to Berlin, which has already started operations as a public transport, cutting the city commute to around 10 minutes. The shuttle ferry connects the East Side Gallery near Ostbahnhof with the cultural hub, Funkhaus. The Swedish tech company says that its electric hydrofoil ferry can travel at 25 knots across the Spree, making it the fastest of its kind and the first of its type in Germany.

Recently, Candela also announced that it is set to deliver a fleet of its shuttles to NEOM, where they will be used as transport vehicles around the islands. In Berlin, it’s Reederei Riedel and Funkhaus that have acquired and now operate the P-12 electric hydrofoil ferry. Uwe Fabich, the owner, says they’ve begun with an hourly service to and from East Side Gallery and Funkhaus. The management is considering potentially expanding the schedule to up to two trips per hour in each direction, given that it’s only a ten-minute commute per route.

all images courtesy of Candela

Avoiding traffic jams on land with ferry on river

Rush hour traffic highlights the reason Candela’s electric hydrofoil ferry, the P-12, has landed in Berlin. Uwe Fabich notes that congested roads make it difficult to navigate the city during this time, just like in any major city. ‘There’s always a traffic jam. Public transportation isn’t much better. Tram line 21, which heads in this direction, is one of the few Berlin tram lines with a 20-minute frequency. After getting off, there’s still a long walk to the Funkhaus,’ says Uwe Fabich. Because Reederei Riedel and Funkhaus are directly on the river, utilizing it with a fleet of electric hydrofoil ferries can help cut down the commute time for those who want to visit the area during peak travel times.

Candela brings a fleet of its flying electric hydrofoil ferry P-12 to Berlin

Candela’s vessel has an adjustable bow ramp for docking

The Swedish tech company believes it’s cost-effective to have the P-12 vessel in Berlin’s river due to its adjustable bow ramp and low energy use. The electric hydrofoil ferry comes with a front ramp that ranges from 0.2 to 2 meters and can be resized depending on the dock’s height. In this case, there’s no need to build a specific dock just for this kind of vessel. I It also doesn’t require specialized charging booths, as the P-12 can recharge its battery using a standard car DC charger in just an hour. Candela says operating costs would be 90 percent lower than diesel ships due to the low energy consumption and its maintenance-free electric C-POD motors.

the shuttle ferry connects the East Side Gallery near Ostbahnhof with the cultural hub, Funkhaus