Lake Tahoe is famous for its mesmerizingly clear opal water and the pine and fir trees lining its rim, all against a backdrop of snowcapped mountains. But soon, you may see an (arguably) even more impressive sight darting across the lake’s surface: the first-ever “flying” ferry.
Thanks to a partnership between local organization FlyTahoe and Swedish technology company Candela, a fleet of the world’s premiere hydrofoiling electric ferries is set to debut on the water as early as the end of 2025.
Called the Candela P-12, the vessel can transport people, bikes, and ski equipment across the lake in just 30 minutes, half the time it takes to drive to the same destination. The ride will be smoother than it would be on a typical ferry as well, due to the ship readjusting a whopping 100 times every second, reducing the risk of seasickness.
“This fusion of flight and electric technologies not only unveils a powerful new business opportunity with nearly 10 times operational efficiency but also offers an unmatched customer experience of comfort and safety,” FlyTahoe founder and CEO Ryan Meinzer said in a press release. “Plus, we’ll not just be moving people faster; we’ll be boosting socio-economic mobility by connecting the north and south of the lake.”
Candela’s hydrofoiling electric ferries themselves are a sight to behold. Steered by computers, underwater wings effectively lift the ships’ hulls in the air, which makes them look as if they’re levitating. They can travel at up to 25 knots, or nearly 29 miles per hour, and the Tahoe fleet is expected to cart 300 people across the lake every day via six round trips, Meinzer told KTVU.
But beyond their exterior beauty and convenience factor, these ferries boast another benefit: They’re better for the environment than traditional water taxis. Because they’re launched by renewable electricity, instead of diesel, they’re zero-emission models that consume 80% less energy. They also don’t require oil changes, reducing the risk of spills, and they’re significantly quieter than traditional vessels, causing less stress to wildlife.
Considering that 20,000 car trips are conducted around the full length of the lake each day, the new ships are an exciting first step into what the future of energy-efficient water transport could look like.
“It’s ironic that while millions, myself included, drive around Lake Tahoe to admire its beauty, the road sediment we generate contributes to the largest threat to the lake’s famous cobalt blue clarity,” Meinzer said in the press release. “Our service will provide a faster transport than cars or buses, while keeping the lake blue.”
And while these ferries are a first for Tahoe (and the U.S.), they’ve already seen some success in a recent launch in Stockholm. In late October, the first electric hydrofoil ferry, dubbed “Nova,” sped 15 kilometers (a little over 9 miles) from a Swedish suburb to Stockholm in less than 30 minutes. Candela founder and CEO Gustav Hasselskog dubbed the trip “a paradigm shift for urban transport and a revival of our waterways” at a time when the capital city’s current water-based public transport uses more fossil fuels than its trains and buses put together.
“Conventional ships haven’t evolved much in 100 years and are among the least energy-efficient transport modes, only rivaled by a battle tank,” said Hasselskog.
Apart from traveling to Sweden, if you’re eager to climb aboard these innovative ferries that appear to fly on water, you can get a headstart by signing up for the FlyTahoe waitlist.
RELATED: Nation’s First Hydrogen-Fueled Ferry Set to Run in San Francisco (and It’s Free)
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