Stockholm’s electric flying ferry, the Candela P-12, has been declared a major success by the Swedish Transport Administration, halving travel times, drastically reducing emissions, significant economic gains, plus very satisfied passengers.
Ferries in Stockholm – dubbed the Venice of the North – account for nearly half of the region’s total public transport emissions yet attract relatively few passengers due to slow journeys and limited daily departures with politicians declaring the Candela P-12 as offering a paradigm shift in how urban waterways can be used.
The city has introduced Candela’s fully electric hydrofoil ferry, the P-12, into regular SL public transport service on Route 89 between the suburb of Ekero and central Stockholm. According to a new report, travel time was reduced from 55 minutes to around 30 minutes, while carbon dioxide emissions were cut by 94 per cent compared to diesel vessels. The vessel was also highly appreciated by passengers.
The hydrofoiling P-12 is the first vessel of its kind in serial production. By “flying” above the water on computer-controlled foils, it dramatically reduces water drag and energy consumption compared to conventional vessels. This enables long range and high speed on battery power alone, while delivering a quiet ride and extremely small wakes – allowing the P-12 to operate at higher speeds within the city under a speed exemption.
The P-12’s wakes measure just 13cm – comparable to a small dinghy with an outboard motor – and significantly smaller than conventional vessels of similar size. The report recommends that future speed limit exemptions be considered to further accelerate waterborne transport in the city.
Sound measurements showed the P-12 to be as quiet as a car on summer tires traveling at 45kmh (25mph), and barely audible from 25m away. The only noticeable sound is the gentle splash of water as the foils cut through the surface.
Ridership on the line increased by 22.5 per cent, with the novel experience attracting both commuters and tourists. Ninety-five percent of passengers rated the experience positively, outperforming other modes of transport in the city.
The report also concludes that, unlike conventional electric ferries that require extensive charging infrastructure, the P-12 system combines low infrastructure costs with lower operating and maintenance costs than diesel ferries. A simulation replacing the two current diesel ferries with six P-12 vessels showed that departures could increase to every 15 minutes instead of once per hour, passenger capacity would grow by 150 per cent, and total socioeconomic benefits could reach SEK 119 million (around AU$18.81 million), while reducing overall cost per ride.
“We’re extremely pleased that the official evaluation confirms what passengers and operators have already experienced – that the Candela P-12 can transform urban waterways,” Candela founder and CEO Gustav Hasselskog said. “By combining high speed, minimal energy use, and near-zero emissions, we can unlock faster, cleaner, and more cost-efficient waterborne transport for cities worldwide.”
The P-12 is already in serial production, with Candela’s Stockholm factory ramping up to 40 vessels per year. Deliveries to customers in Mumbai, the Maldives, Thailand, Berlin, and other markets are beginning in 2026.
