Candela opens first test drive centre in US

Swedish electric boat manufacturer Candela has announced its first test drive centre in the US is opening in Sausalito, California, on 1 April.

Candela currently has test-drive centres in Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Italy, and the newest location aims to expand Candela’s presence in the US market.

Candela says its electric craft, which fly silently above the water’s surface, can fly for over two hours at a cruising speed of 22 knots. Computer-aided hydrofoils lift the hull above the surface, reducing water friction and energy usage by 80 per cent when compared to traditional powerboats. Candela says this allows for a range 2-3 times longer than any other electric boat on the market.

Candela currently has over 100 orders for the new Candela C-8 daycruiser, with the company leading in electric boat sales in Europe. However, the majority of new customers are from the US, making the American powerboat market a key target for Candela.

“We’re not just aiming at making the best electric boat,” says Tanguy de Lamotte, CEO of Candela US. “We’re making a vastly better boat than today’s conventional powerboats, hands down — combustion engine or electric.

“Thanks to our hydrofoil technology and our direct-drive C-POD motor, there’s no slamming, no noise, no fumes and very little maintenance. It basically takes away all the bad things with powerboats. Once you’ve tried a Candela, it’s very hard to go back to conventional boating.”

Candela’s 80-strong team of engineers and technicians from the aerospace, car and software industries have been developing the proprietary hydrofoil technology and associated software since 2014. Using the learnings from their first serial production model, the C-7 sportsboat, Candela now ventures into mass production of leisure craft with the Candela C-8, while simultaneously developing the world’s first hydrofoiling shuttle ship, Candela P-30, which will go into production in 2023.