On 27th October, Boundary Layer Technologies, a California based marine technology startup launched their fully electric hydrofoiling ferry concept design.
Electra, twice the speed and range of existing electric ferries, has a range of up to 100 nautical miles and cruise speed of 40 knots due to Boundary Layer Technology’s proprietary hydrofoil technology and podded propulsion system. Compared to fossil fuel alternatives, Electra’s battery electric propulsion significantly reduces cabin noise by up to 20dB compared to conventional ferries. It’s foiling system also offers excellent seakeeping and ride comfort.
“Hydrofoil technology is the key to enabling electrification of passenger ferries” explains Ed Kearney, CEO of Boundary Layer Technologies.
“By reducing the drag of the vessel by a factor of two, the powering requirements are also halved, which increases the speed and range of what an electric ferry can do. This opens the door to electrification of the majority of ferry routes across the world.”
The Electra ferry offers OPEX reductions of up to 35% compared to fossil fuel burning fast ferry alternatives, as well as helps operators’ de-risk the future cost uncertainties of carbon taxes and emissions trading schemes being implemented globally.
“We think Electra is an exciting development of ferry technology and shows promise for decarbonising ferry operations and adding to the customer’s experience” says Patrick Murphy, President, Blue & Gold Fleet, who is the contract operator of San Francisco’s 15 high speed ferries.
Boundary Layer Technologies has already developed the hydrofoil and control systems required for Electra, and plans to have the first vessels in operation by Q1 2024 in regions such as the United States, Scandinavia, and the Mediterranean.
