Last year, luxury electric car brand Polestar agreed to supply batteries to foiling e-boat maker Candela. Now the first fruit of that deal has been revealed, a new version of the C-8 leisure craft that's now good for a per-charge range of 57 nautical miles.
The C-8 "powered by Polestar" edition will replace Candela's current 44-kWh production model when it goes into production this coming (Northern Hemisphere) spring.
The foiling electric boat retains much from the current model, including the computer-guided retractable C-Foil wings and pod motor that allow it to "fly" above the surface of the water for a relatively quiet, efficient and smooth ride – without leaving much wake behind it.
Its internal layout has been redesigned, however, to accommodate the same 69-kWh battery module and DC fast-charging technology found in the Polestar 2 five-door fastback EV.
At a cruise speed of 22 knots 25 mph), the revised C-8 has an expected range of up to 57 nautical miles (65 miles/105 km) – plus an extra 3 nautical miles in reserve to limp home at 4 knots if needed – which makes it the longest-range production electric boat, according to Candela.
"This collaboration means that the C-8 can travel to destinations previously only reachable by combustion-engine boats," said company CEO and founder, Gustav Hasselskog. "The Candela C-8 powered by Polestar marks a significant breakthrough for electrification at sea."
Candela quotes usage data from European boat-sharing service Apagi, which reveals that some 95% of day trips undertaken by its members clock up less than 50 nautical miles, which should be "well within the range of the Candela C-8."
Elsewhere, the new 8.5-m-long (28-ft) C-8 benefits from lightweight carbon fiber construction, the interior is designed to sleep a small family, a tinted hatch above allows light to filter through, and the foiling boat can be optioned with a premium sound system sporting six speakers plus a subwoofer.
It's being made available in hard-top, day cruiser or T-top configurations. The C-Pod motor is reported to output 75 kW (100 hp) at takeoff, and operates at 23 kW (30 hp) when foiling. And the top speed is given as 27-knots.
The order books for the C-8 powered by Polestar are open now, with the price remaining the same as before at US$395,000. The video below has more.
Source: Candela
The same thing will happen again.
And no need as catamarans can do the same things with better performance, much more seaworthy, less draft and designed right, nothing to catch anything with and just slides anything, animals, dock pieces, etc away.
Since cats are displacement hulls they can carry more battery weight, thus longer range so much better than a hydrofoil.
They do run well in waves as long as not too high, 4.5'., 1.5m or so tops, they hit the boat bottom.
A whale took out a 137' US military Pegasus missile patrol boat off Miami putting the crew in the hospital , totaled it and the whale wasn't happy either. Next yr, 88?, they decommissioned the 6 ones they had next to me in Key West. Though they would be killer in Ukraine as 8 Harpoon anti ship missiles and great anti missile, ship 3" gun tech could go right at the Russians and win.