Cutting-edge maritime firms are leveraging underwater wings that elevate vessels above the water line, reducing drag by up to two-thirds. This engineering approach lets operators use smaller, cheaper battery packs that drastically lower operational energy needs. Large municipal operators are also committing capital, including San Francisco's multi-million-dollar program to integrate electric vessels and charging hubs into its heavily traveled diesel routes over the next two years.
Key points
Underwater hydrofoil wings drastically reduce water drag to make battery-powered public t…: Underwater hydrofoil wings drastically reduce water drag to make battery-powered public transit more economically viable.
San Francisco is spending approximately $500 million to transition away from an entirely…: San Francisco is spending approximately $500 million to transition away from an entirely diesel-powered fleet of 18 boats.
Transitioning waterway passenger networks targets the transportation sector that serves a…: Transitioning waterway passenger networks targets the transportation sector that serves as the top source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Cutting through New York Harbor in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty, the small white boat we were riding on caught the attention of passengers aboard a nearby sightseeing ferry.
“It’s quite a curiosity at the moment,” Eric Laakmann, the chief executive and co-founder of Vessev, said.
His company builds fully electric hydrofoil boats. These vessels use underwater “wings” to lift their hulls above the surface as they pick up speed. By raising the boat out of the water, the design dramatically reduces drag, one of the biggest obstacles to making boats more energy-efficient.
“We’re picking up speed. We’re going for a takeoff,” Laakmann said as the boat rapidly accelerated.
The hydrofoils lifted the hull about a foot and a half above the water. Almost immediately, the ride transformed. The familiar slap of the boat pushing through waves became a smooth, almost airborne glide.
How hydrofoils make electric boats ‘viable’
The hydrofoil effect is more than a novelty. Water creates significant resistance, and overcoming it takes energy. Electrifying boats is a challenge because batteries are heavy, and that extra…
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