Candela C-7 premiering at Salone di Nautico, Venice
by Candela 30 May 2021 10:48 BST
29 May - 6 June 2021
Candela C-7 is the world's first flying, electric boat. Thanks to underwater wings, it has longer range and higher speed than conventional e-boats. But for Venice, the best part is that it doesn't create harmful wakes.
Flying silently above the sea surface at a speed of 30 knots, the hydrofoiling Candela C-7 is the first electric boat that uses tech from the aircraft industry to overcome a hurdle all boats face: friction from the water. Lifted up on its underwater wings, C-7 uses 80 percent less energy than other fast speedboats.
This translates into record-breaking all-electric range and high speed, but for Venice, the most important aspect of C-7 is the total absence of wake. Moto Ondoso - wake damage - from fast motorboats threatens to erode Venice's ancient buildings.
The wake from C-7 is barely 5 cm high, meaning the wave energy will not affect other boats or buildings, even when driving in narrow straits.
The C-7 has been developed by Candela's expert team of engineers within various fields such as structural engineering, hydrodynamics, software, computers and sensor technology.
In-flight, Candela C-7 is constantly balanced by computers and software which allow for a superbly stable ride, even in choppy conditions. The boat's Flight control system adjusts the hydrofoil 100 times per second to ensure perfect handling in waves and side winds.
The C-7 is really the first modern electric boat. We use findings from the aircraft and drone industry to make a craft that is several times more effective than any boat before it. Our mission is to make electric boats that are not only just as good as combustion engine powerboats, but actually way better, says Mikael Mahlberg, Communications Manager at Candela.