Saudi Arabia will use flying electric ferries in its desert megacity

Saudi Arabia has set itself the goal of transporting people in its desert metropolis using flying electric boats. That may sound like science fiction, but the wings are already in motion. To achieve its goal, Saudi Arabia has even already purchased eight of the new P-12 electric ferries from the Swedish electric boat manufacturer Candela.

Candela’s electric boats are famous not only for their high efficiency, but also for the way they achieve that high efficiency. Candela uses computer-controlled hydrofoils to automatically lift its boats out of the water. This means the batteries last much longer and the boats go faster and farther.

The company began by manufacturing speedboats for recreational boaters, but has now expanded its product range to include commercial vessels by applying its technology and designs to air ferries of various sizes.

“The P-12 is designed to create zero-emission water transportation systems that offer significant improvements over traditional water commuting,” explained Gustav Hasselskog, CEO and founder of Candela. “Unlike traditional systems using large, slow and energy-inefficient conventional ferries, the Candela P-12 is a smaller and faster unit that allows for much more frequent departures and faster journeys for passengers. All everyday necessities and services are just a short boat ride away.”

The Candela P-12 is the model that Saudi Arabia plans to use in its desert megacity NEOM, currently under construction on the Red Sea. The city has already purchased eight P-12s, the largest commercial order in Candela’s history.

Delivery of the ships is planned for next year.

The P-12 was first introduced last year and is scheduled to begin operating later this year as part of Stockholm’s public transport system.

Not only does the boat reduce the energy consumption of commercial ferry systems, but it also provides a much smoother and more comfortable ride, even in choppy waters. Since the boat does not rock or crash on waves and wakes, even passengers prone to seasickness find the ride pleasant.

“We are very proud to be able to offer a shipping system that takes into account both passengers and the environment. Short waiting times, fast connections and a very pleasant experience without burdening the environment with wake, emissions and noise will revolutionise the way we travel on the water,” added Hasselskog.