In January 2022, Candela announced it would be partnering with Agapi Boat Club. This meant that significantly more people would be able to experience Candela’s latest foiling C-8, with significantly less cost (a new C-8 retails at circa €300,000, whereas an annual boat club membership is circa €4,000).

Underpinning this, Agapi data collected from its European fleets (from Helsinki to Mallorca), show that 95 per cent of its members’ day excursions are less than 50 nautical miles.

This data has buoyed Candela especially as it says it’s now created the world’s longest-range electric boat. Its latest iteration uses Polestar batteries and DC charging, which Candela says gives the C-8 up to 57nm of expected range (neatly playing into Agapi’s data).

The Candela C-8 ‘powered by Polestar’ will use the same 69 kWh battery pack and DC charging technology as the Polestar 2 (electric car). Its expected range of up to 57nm on one charge is at a cruising speed of 22 knots. The range is two to three times longer than what conventional electric speedboats can achieve at high speed and compares favourably with how internal combustion engine powerboats are used, says the company.

“This collaboration means that C-8 can travel to destinations previously only reachable by combustion engine boats. The Candela C-8 ‘powered by Polestar’ marks a significant breakthrough for electrification at sea”, says Gustav Hasselskog, Candela‘s CEO.

The secret to the long range lies in its hydrofoil technology. Because it’s above the waves on computer-guided underwater wings, water friction is reduced – thus, the C-8 uses 80 per cent less energy than conventional boats at high speed. Once foilborne, the C-8 draws around 23 kW/30hp continuously from its Polestar battery pack – whereas a similar-sized conventional boat would use around 120 kW/160hp.

The Polestar collaboration also enables DC charging.

“With access to DC fast chargers, which are now starting to pop up in several places around the globe, you can cover totally new routes with Candela C-8. You can go from Sweden to Finland in one day, or along the entire French Riviera in a few hours, for a few euros/dollars’ worth of electricity,” says Hasselskog.

The Candela C-8 ‘powered by Polestar’ will be at boot Düsseldorf, Hall 4, D22.

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