Could the electric hydrofoil ferry change the way we commute?
Over the last few months, however, Stockholm has been testing a vessel that may solve that problem: the world's first
electric hydrofoil ferry
.
Developed by a Swedish start-up, Candela, a 30-seat, battery-driven vessel known as the P-12 has almost halved the commute time of a conventional diesel ferry - to 30 minutes - across an 11-mile stretch between the island of Ekero and City Hall in the centre of Stockholm. At the same time, the P-12 emits 95% less emissions than the diesel ferry and uses 80% less energy, according to SL, the Stockholm public transport authority.
Gustav Hasselskog, Candela's founder and chief executive, said the realisation, 11 years ago, that his speedboat guzzled 15 times as much fuel as his car had set him on a course to develop an energy-efficient maritime solution. "High-speed passenger ferries and boats are the least fuel-efficient mode of transit in the world because almost all energy is used to push away the water," he said. "If you convert to electric, you need massive amounts of batteries, which are expensive and have limited range. The only way to go far and fast on the same battery is when you hydrofoil." Hydrofoils are the winglike structures mounted under a boat's hull to lift the craft above the water as it gains speed, much as airplane wings do through the air. The technique drastically reduces drag from water friction and allows for faster, more energy-efficient travel.
Kuttenkeuler, who invented the Efoil, an electric hydrofoil board that glides above the water's surface, said
hydrofoil technology
was a common marine transport system in the 1980s but was phased out because of the high operational costs. Advancements in digitalisation, composite materials and sensor technology have contributed to its comeback, he added.
In addition to the environmental benefits, the electric hydrofoil has several other advantages. The batteries are relatively small, so they do not require massive charging infrastructure. They do not generate waves that erode the shoreline or wreak havoc for windsurfers and moored boats in their wake. And because they are kept level by a computer and soar over the waves, they do not cause seasickness.
So far, Mumbai, India, has the most ambitious plans for the P-12. JalVimana, the local shuttle operator, will begin with 11 ferries on popular tourist routes from the Gateway of India to Alibag and Elephanta Island. A third route will connect the airport with the centre of Mumbai, cutting travel time from 90 minutes by car to less than 30 minutes on the water.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Reliance Retail acquires home appliances brand Kelvinator
Reliance Retail MUMBAI: Reliance Retail has acquired home appliances brand Kelvinator for India from Sweden's Electrolux as it looks to expand market share in the consumer durables space, stepping up competition against global and local giants such as Samsung and Tata's Voltas in the market. Reliance Retail has already been holding manufacturing and distribution rights for the brand in India since 2019 through a licensing deal signed with its Swedish owner. The company did not disclose the financial specifics of the deal. In an earnings update, Electrolux, however, said that it has realised a gain of about $18.5 million (around Rs 160 crore) from the divestment of the Kelvinator brand in India. A licensing deal is typically signed for a certain period of time; a full acquisition expands a company's scope and coverage for the brand. Kelvinator which sells a range of premium refrigerators, washing machines and air conditioners had first entered India in 1960s and became popular in the local market in the 1970s and 80s before competition in the space intensified. The brand has had a chequered history in India—Whirlpool for India had acquired the brand in 1995 to gain access to the refrigerator category and later it went on to get acquired by Videocon Industries in the mid 2000s, eventually being relaunched by Reliance Retail in 2019. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo Reliance Retail already sells Kelvinator products through Reliance Digital stores, e-commerce platforms and its general trade partners. Flexible payment schemes and EMI plans offered by brands have fuelled appetite for premium consumer durables, broadening the customer base for the segment. Reliance Retail said that it will leverage its vast retail network and Kelvinator's expertise in innovation to boost its growth in the premium home appliances market. 'The acquisition of Kelvinator marks a pivotal moment, enabling us to significantly broaden our offering of trusted global innovations to Indian consumers. This is powerfully supported by our unmatched scale, comprehensive service capabilities and market-leading distribution network,' Isha M Ambani, executive director at Reliance Retail Ventures said in a statement. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
India.com
2 hours ago
- India.com
Bad news for Russia, China, Iran as US' F-35 fighter jet becomes more lethal due to..., nuclear weapon...
New Delhi: America's F-35 fighter plane has got a new lethal capability. With this, F-35 will now be able to attack its enemies even more lethally. This fighter plane was already a big threat to America's rivals and big military powers like China and Russia. In such a situation, now this fighter plane has become more powerful as it got new lethal capability. What is the new weapon F-35 is equipped with? American F-35 has been equipped with a new weapon. This has increased the lethal capability of F-35 manifold and now in case of a conflict, the F-35 would prove to be more dangerous for China and Russia. The F-35A Lightning II has now received certification to carry the B61-12 nuclear bomb. According to the F-35 Joint Program Office, it is the first stealth fighter capable of carrying nuclear weapons, giving the US and NATO a new dual-role fighter jet. What is B61-12 nuclear bomb? The B61-12 is a modern nuclear gravity bomb. It will replace the older B61 variants. This bomb can be fired anywhere from the F-35A fighter aircraft. This bomb is designed for both tactical and strategic missions. This bomb has four different capacity settings, including a low-capacity option for use in the battlefield. What are features of F-35 jet? The F-35 is equipped with stealth technology and state-of-the-art sensors that help it to avoid radar. Due to this, enemy's radars are unable to detect the F-35 fighter aircraft. Its advanced sensor fusion system combines data obtained from multiple sensors, giving pilots a complete view of the battlefield. This technology helps the F-35 to strike targets without seeing them. The F-35 can fire both nuclear and conventional weapons with high accuracy. Its targeting systems, including electro-optical targeting systems and advanced radars help to accurately strike high-value enemy targets. This jet can also share targeting data with other aircraft and units. Why is F-35 called a multirole fighter jet? The F-35 is called a multirole fighter jet as it can switch between conventional and nuclear missions. This power is important for NATO and allied air forces, as it allows an aircraft to perform a wide range of tasks, from air defense to strategic deterrence. Countries such as Germany, Belgium, Italy and the United Kingdom are buying the F-35A to join NATO's nuclear mission. The F-35's new role is being considered an important part of NATO's defense plans, as it replaces older jets in the nuclear sharing programme. The F-35's ability to carry nuclear bombs, combined with its stealth and advanced sensors, sets a new standard for combat aircraft and its dual-role capability could shape the future of aerial warfare and nuclear deterrence.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
US stock market today: Wall Street pauses near record highs as earnings, inflation expectations take center stage
How did the US stock market perform today? Why did the S&P 500 ease after reaching a record high? Live Events Which stocks made the biggest moves? Which stocks gained the most today? Tesla (TSLA) led the way with a +3.4% jump, boosting the tech-heavy Nasdaq and overall market optimism. led the way with a jump, boosting the tech-heavy Nasdaq and overall market optimism. Charles Schwab (SCHW) also surged +3.4% , fueled by strong quarterly profit growth . also surged , fueled by strong quarterly profit growth . Norfolk Southern (NSC) climbed ~2.9–3% on news of potential merger talks. climbed on news of potential merger talks. Utilities sector stocks led S&P sectors, rallying 1.7% on average. led S&P sectors, rallying on average. Chevron and Hess saw notable gains—Chevron rose on a legal win, and Hess jumped around 7.6% . Apple (AAPL) was flat, with a modest uptick of +0.14% . was flat, with a modest uptick of . Nvidia (NVDA) edged slightly lower, down about 0.2% intraday. Which stocks are leading the market action? The biggest stock losers today based on market performance: American Express (AXP) fell around 3% after its earnings report failed to impress investors despite meeting expectations. fell around after its earnings report failed to impress investors despite meeting expectations. Netflix (NFLX) dropped about 4% , even though it posted better-than-expected earnings, as guidance and subscriber growth disappointed some traders. dropped about , even though it posted better-than-expected earnings, as guidance and subscriber growth disappointed some traders. 3M (MMM) saw a slight decline despite reporting an earnings beat, as future outlook concerns weighed on sentiment. saw a slight decline despite reporting an earnings beat, as future outlook concerns weighed on sentiment. Biotech and healthcare stocks also underperformed, with select names dipping due to weak trial updates or lukewarm guidance. also underperformed, with select names dipping due to weak trial updates or lukewarm guidance. Travel-related stocks like some cruise lines and airlines edged lower after recent rallies, likely from profit-taking. What's going on at the Fed? Is the U.S. economy still showing strength? How did earnings season shape this week's rally? What should investors watch heading into next week? How tech giants perform in the next wave of earnings More clarity on Fed's stance in upcoming meetings Inflation indicators and employment data FAQs: (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The S&P 500 touched a new all-time high on Friday before pulling back slightly, as investors reacted to a fresh round of corporate earnings and new U.S. economic data. By midday, the S&P 500 was trading just 0.1% higher, showing signs of caution even as the index aims to end the week on a positive note. The Nasdaq Composite also gained 0.1%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 59 points, or 0.2%, weighed down by a post-earnings drop in American Express, which slid 3%.For the week, all three major indexes remain on track for gains, with the S&P 500 up 0.8%, the Nasdaq ahead by 1.8%, and the Dow adding 0.2%.slipped approximately 0.54%, weighed down by modest declines in industrial and financial S&P 500's initial jump was driven by optimism around earnings and economic data. However, as traders digested the details, the market cooled. Despite hitting record territory, concerns around individual earnings reports and broader economic signals created a mixed trading Express, a key component of the Dow, saw its shares fall 3% post-earnings, dragging the 30-stock index lower. Meanwhile, Netflix, even after reporting stronger-than-expected earnings, saw its stock drop 4%, showing how investors are reacting cautiously, even to good one of the session's biggest losers, dropping over, despite posting a second-quarter earnings beat and raising its full-year revenue guidance. Analysts pointed to Netflix's high valuation and noted that its results simply weren't enough to satisfy 'elevated expectations.' The stock, already up more than 40% year-to-date, faced pressure as investors hoped for a more bullish fell sharply, down, despite surpassing earnings and revenue estimates. While consumer spending remained resilient—rising 7% year-over-year—executives noted a slight pullback in discretionary areas like travel. The company left its full-year guidance unchanged, which some investors saw as too conservative given current the flip side,gained nearlyafter posting a. The brokerage benefited from increased trading activity driven by market volatility linked to tariff-related heavyweightalso posted solid gains, rising more thanafter beating second-quarter earnings and raising its full-year outlook—helped by stable demand and cost controls.A surprise standout was, which rose overfollowing the passage of the, a groundbreaking stablecoin regulation bill. Analysts at Seaport Research raised their price target from, calling Circle the 'purest stablecoin play' in the market. Since its IPO last month, Circle's stock has surged overOther notable movers:(+4.7%) and(+6.4%) surged following crypto-related legislative news, andspiked aroundin premarket trading on acquisition newsThese gains reflect broad strength across sectors today—tech and velocity boosts from Tesla and crypto, plus energy and utilities pushing continued its rally, inching up another 0.3%, maintaining its upward momentum that's helped lift the tech-heavy Nasdaq. Tesla also saw a solid 3% gain, while Alphabet and Amazon edged PepsiCo and United Airlines jumped earlier in the week after both beat earnings estimates, reflecting strong consumer demand and operational efficiency. Big banks like JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs also posted impressive numbers, adding support to the overall market far, around 60 companies in the S&P 500 have released second-quarter earnings. According to data, 86% of them have surpassed analyst expectations, giving bulls more reason to stay while the broader market held steady, these names faced pressure due to earnings reactions or sector-specific Governor Christopher Waller made headlines with his strongest call yet for a July rate cut. Speaking in New York, Waller argued the central bank should lower its policy rate by 125–150 basis points, bringing it down to 3%. He said any inflation stemming from Trump's tariffs would likely be temporary and shouldn't prevent seen as a potential successor to Fed Chair Jerome Powell, added in a Friday interview that if President Trump offered him the top Fed job, he would accept—though he clarified that Trump 'has not contacted me.'Yes, the latest economic data suggests the U.S. economy remains resilient. Strong GDP growth projections and signs of cooling inflation have helped reinforce investor confidence.'It's a risk-on environment,' said Ken Mahoney, CEO at Mahoney Asset Management. He added, 'While there's chatter about Fed rate cuts, the reality is more nuanced. Historically, markets tend to perform better without cuts. But with inflation easing and GDP growth holding, there's a valid case for a different outcome this time.'Earnings were a key driver of the weekly rally. With a high percentage of companies beating expectations, confidence in corporate fundamentals remains strong. Investors were encouraged by the strength of sectors ranging from consumer goods to airlines and S&P 500's 0.8% weekly gain reflects that positive sentiment, even if Friday's moves were muted. The Nasdaq's 1.8% rise was boosted by mega-cap techs, while the Dow's modest 0.2% gain shows mixed reactions in industrials and more companies continue to report earnings, attention will shift to forward guidance and commentary around inflation, consumer demand, and potential Fed policy. With rate cut discussions still in play and economic data continuing to roll in, markets could remain themes for next week will include:Investors are still in a 'wait and see' mode, but so far, the combination of strong earnings, economic stability, and tech leadership is keeping the rally strong earnings and solid U.S. economic data boosted investor giants like Tesla, Nvidia, Alphabet, and Amazon supported the Nasdaq's gains.
