Candela is opening a test drive centre in Cannes on the French Riviera to demonstrate the Candela C-8 electric daycruiser.
After selling more than 100 units in the US and Europe, Candela is now entering the French market in partnership with Sud Plaisance. The company will make it French debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival, and the new test centre will display the C-8 electric hydrofoil craft from Autumn 2022.
The C-8 can operate for over 2 hours at a cruising speed of 22 knots. The vessel’s computer-aided hydrofoils lift the hull above the surface, reducing water friction and energy usage by 80 percent compared to traditional powerboats. Alongside their speed, the hydrofoiling boats have a range that is 2–3 times greater than any other electric boat currently on the market.
Candela's CEO and founder Gustav Hasselskog said:We're building an electric boat that doesn't compete with ICE powerboats; it is vastly better. I believe that's what's needed to speed up the transition to sustainable boating,
Speedboats are a key cultural element on the French Riviera, but they typically emit a considerable amount of C02. Conventional power boats also have high refuelling costs, create a significant amount of noise pollution, and provide rough journeys in waves.
In comparison, the Candela C-8 can provide zero-emission high-speed transport from Cannes to Monaco and back on one charge of its battery, while being 95 percent less expensive to drive than a conventional powerboat. The foiling of the C-8 is also totally silent, and once foilborne, the onboard flight controller automatically regulates the hydrofoils to account for wind, waves and different loads to maintain a stable craft that does not roll or pitch in the waves.
Gustav Hasselskog, Founder and CEO of Candela said:Our goal with C-8 was not only to build the best electric boat, but to make a vastly better boat than today’s powerboats. To do away with all the drawbacks and provide a far better experience. To partner with Sud Plaisance, the leading recreational boat reseller on the French coast, is an extremely good match.
