Maritime transport firm Vessev has developed a fully electric boat that uses hydrofoil technology to reduce energy consumption by up to 90 per cent.
The nine-metre-long VS-9 is designed to transport up to 10 passengers at 25 knots, with retractable hydrofoils that lift the hull out of the water when travelling at speed.
Vessev has created an electric hydrofoil ferry
This technology reduces drag and improves efficiency, allowing for a 90 per cent reduction in energy consumption while facilitating a range of up to 50 nautical miles, according to Vessev.
The VS-9 can be charged using existing electric charging points, paving the way for a quick rollout as dedicated infrastructure is not required.
Retractable hydrofoils lift the hull out of the water "Our objective is to break down the barriers to adopting electric vessels," said Vessev CEO Eric Laakmann.
"From the outset, our goal was to design a commercial electric vessel that can use the charging capacity already available in many marinas to run serious commercial businesses."
The boat can travel at speeds of up to 25 knots
The efficiency of the hydrofoil technology means the VS-9 can take advantage of innovative electric power systems and batteries, allowing for faster charging and reduced operational costs.
In a trial against a petrol-powered boat following the same route, the cost of the electricity used to charge the VS-9 was 25 times less than the cost of the petrol fuelling the chase boat, according...