Fleet of ‘Flying Ferries’ Will Provide Zero-Emission, Silent EV Boats for Travelers Along Norway’s Busy Coast

[Ghoti Ichthus]

Fleet of ‘Flying Ferries’ Will Provide Zero-Emission, Silent EV Boats for Travelers Along Norway’s Busy Coast​

By Good News Network
Apr 12, 2026

"Tourists and commuters along Norway’s stunning coastline will soon travel aboard “flying” electric ferries—quietly whizzing above the water to their destinations.
A Norwegian leader in sustainable transport, Boreal AS, has ordered 20 electric hydrofoil vessels from Candela Technology, with deliveries next year from the Swedish company that will launch the world’s largest electric fleet.
Water travel is an essential part of daily transportation along Norway’s fjord-lined coast and the “uniquely fast” hydrofoils will speed up commute times. (Watch the video at the bottom…)
Electrifying passenger boats has been challenging—because E-ferries have lacked the range and speed to replace diesel-powered vessels connecting towns across Norway’s 62,000 miles of coastline (100,000km).
The Candela P-12 solves this: it combines a cruising speed of 25 knots with a range of around 40 nautical miles, enabling electric operation on routes previously only served with diesel fuel, according to a company press release.
“Candela P-12 is the only electric passenger vessel that combines longer range with high speed without requiring extensive charging infrastructure,” said Boreal CEO, Nikolai Knudsmoen Utheim."

"With 99% of new car sales in Norway already fully electric, it makes sense that the backbone of the nation’s rural transport—“hurtigbåtar”—should also be cleaner and greener and lifted into the 21st century."

More (including link to a video)

Fleet of ‘Flying Ferries’ Will Provide Zero-Emission, Silent EV Boats for Travelers Along Norway’s Busy Coast

Tourists and commuters along Norway’s coast will soon travel aboard “flying” electric ferries—quietly whizzing above the water from Candela.

www.goodnewsnetwork.org

 

[mattfivefour]

I have read criticisms as well as positive reviews. I how these hydrofoil electric creatures live up to the hype. It will be good for many reasons.

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

I have read criticisms as well as positive reviews. I how these hydrofoil electric creatures live up to the hype. It will be good for many reasons.

I figure these are like the early hybrid cars, which were lucky to get 10 miles on the battery driveling slowly, and more realistically just get off the interstate in an emergency. Now plug-ins and hybrids with much greater electric-only range, and the issue now is getting faster charging and building charging infrastructure. I wonder how Norway's getting electric car batteries to work well during winter in the mountains and interior north. These ferries are obviously over coastal water, so not really all that cold. There will likely be lots of speed and range improvement over the next few years. Wonder how long before those comfy spaced out seats get added to and crammed together to become "sardine class" (like what happened to the airlines).

 

[Tall Timbers]

I wonder if the 40 nautical mile range will be the real world experience. Even if it is that isn't a lot of range.

The lack of noisy engines is a big plus.