Dilip Kuner
A SWEDISH-built ‘flying’ electric boat has zipped across the Strait of Gibraltar from Spain to Africa – and back – in a single day, marking the first-ever intercontinental journey by an electric vessel.
The futuristic Candela C-8 Polestar Edition completed the 24-nautical mile voyage from Sotogrande, Spain, to Ceuta, North Africa, in just over an hour – matching the speed of diesel fast ferries, but with none of the fumes.
But this is no ordinary boat. With underwater hydrofoils that lift the hull out of the water, the vessel ‘flies’ above the waves, slashing drag and cutting energy use by a jaw-dropping 80%.
“We slash energy use by 80%, eliminate emissions, and enable fast, smooth crossings at a fraction of the cost,” said Gustav Hasselskog, Candela CEO and the pilot of the record-breaking trip.
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“We’re opening the door to entirely new, sustainable ferry routes across the Mediterranean.”
And cheap it was. The C-8 sipped just 40 kWh of electricity during the crossing – about €8 worth. Meanwhile, a gasoline-powered photo boat following the journey guzzled 50 litres of fuel at a cost of around €90.
“There’s a clear need for additional fast, clean, and efficient travel options across the Mediterranean,” Hasselskog added. “We can help meet this demand, working alongside existing operators and ferries to boost connectivity and cut emissions.”
The journey was more than a stunt. Candela used the crossing to show off the potential of its P-12 electric hydrofoil ferry, a larger model already in operation in Stockholm’s public transport system and heading soon to Berlin, Lake Tahoe, NEOM in Saudi Arabia, and New Zealand.
While the Mediterranean may be beautiful, the Strait of Gibraltar is notorious for its strong currents and lurching seas – often a nightmare for passengers prone to seasickness. But the C-8 handled it with ease.
“It functions much like the flight controller of a modern jet fighter,” said Hasselskog. “We couldn’t feel the waves, while the photo boat was bouncing around quite a bit.”
The voyage was part of a partnership with Avangreen, the clean energy firm behind Ceuta’s largest solar plant. Avangreen CEO Manuel Gomez, who joined the voyage, hailed the crossing as a step toward greener waters.
“Enabling sustainable mobility powered by green energy is the cornerstone of our strategy,” Gómez said. “We’re looking forward to working with Candela to explore the possibilities for P-12 lines in the region.”
Today, most of the 3.5 million annual crossings across the Strait are made aboard large diesel ferries connecting major ports – slow, smelly, and inconvenient for many. Candela’s plan? Introduce fast, direct, electric connections for smaller communities along the coast.
