Lake Manapōuri, widely known as the most beautiful lake in New Zealand, is also home to the Manapōuri Power Station, the country’s largest hydroelectric power station. The service staff and contractors at the station require daily transport across the 17.4 mi (28 km) long lake on New Zealand’s South Island. Until now, that passenger service has been performed using a diesel-powered ferry. However, a recent purchase by Meridian, the country’s largest electric utility company, will soon bring a more sustainable option to the area.

The new P-12 electric hydrofoil ferry, which was introduced three months ago by Swedish boatbuilding startup Candela, will provide daily staff and contractor transport to and from Manapōuri Power Station beginning in 2025.

Candela claims the new ferry will save 240 tons of carbon emissions each year—equivalent to taking 52 internal combustion cars off the road. The company says that maritime transport represents 3% of global CO2 emissions, a figure projected to grow to 13% in the coming decades if no action is taken, reported the European Commission. High hopes are therefore placed on electric vessels, with the market for electric ships estimated to hit $31.48 billion by 3034, according to recent market research by Fact.MR.

The P-12 is one way the energy company is reducing its emissions from internal transport, contributing to Meridian’s goal of halving its emissions by 2030, according to Tania Palmer, Meridian’s General Manager of Generation.

“We have to be bold and innovative to reduce emissions,” said Palmer. “This deal is the result of a global search to identify the latest and best technology for our needs and one that’s suitable for such an incredible natural environment. The Candela P-12 is an exciting replacement for the diesel ferry we currently use to transport people across the lake to the power station. It’ll drastically reduce emissions and, at the same time, give our team what’s arguably the best and most spectacular commute in the world.”

Meridian signing a deal with Candela to purchase the P-12 means it is the first customer outside Europe to take delivery of the electric shuttle ferry.

“We’re excited to partner with a global leader in the transition to sustainable energy and global decarbonization and thrilled to soon see our P-12 in action on Lake Manapōuri,” said Gustav Hasselskog, Candela CEO. “We thank Meridian for leading the charge towards a cleaner, greener future.”

Candela describes itself as a tech company dedicated to unlocking the potential of waterways for sustainable transport. It designs and builds the world’s first electric hydrofoil ships and boats that “fly” above the friction of water. The company says its hydrofoil design helps to overcome the greatest hurdle to electrification at sea, namely that conventional hulls are hugely inefficient and have correspondingly short range at high speeds.

With a length of 12 m (39.4 ft) and a beam of 4.5 m (14.7 ft), the P-12 can carry up to 30 seated passengers. The ferry is powered by a 254-kW·h battery and two Candela C-POD Max electric motors with 340-kW total peak power.

Flying on computer-guided hydrofoils, the P-12’s hull rises above the water at high speed, which reduces energy consumption by 80% when compared to traditional vessels, according to Candela, and allows for long-range and high-speed travel using battery power—and makes it the most efficient fast ship available.

According to the company, its P-12 boasts the highest top speed and longest range of any electric ferry. It can achieve a top speed of 30 kts (56 km/h), which makes it the fastest electric ferry in the world. The vessel has a range of 50 nmi (93 km) at 25 kts (46 km/h), which Candela says is the longest range of any electric ship.

It provides many environmental benefits. At a cruise speed of 25 kts, the wake behind the vessel is less than 15 cm (6 in) high, which will minimize disruption to the shoreline of Lake Manapōuri—part of a UNESCO World Heritage Area and home to many indigenous species including longfin eel. The hull design results in minimal wake generation, which can cut travel times given exemptions in local speed limits in areas such as Stockholm.

In addition to protecting the environment and wildlife, the P-12 benefits passengers with human-focused technology. The vessel is stabilized in real-time by a flight controller computer system, which prevents motion-sickness-inducing pitching and slamming found in other ships. The flight controller uses sensors to measure the wave height in front of the vessel and then adjusts the hydrofoils’ angle of attack 100 times per second to provide a smooth ride over them.

Priced at €1.7 million, the 30-seat Shuttle variant of the P-12 matches the cost of similar-sized internal-combustion-engine vessels and is priced significantly lower than other electric options.

Candela says the P-12 carries 90% lower energy and maintenance costs than diesel vessels, allowing operators to remain profitable in their transition from diesel ships to sustainable fleets. It requires very low investments for charging infrastructure, thanks to its high efficiency, and can use a typical DC charger for electric cars, with 175-kW DC charging or overnight AC charging.