In a major move for sustainable maritime transport, Swedish company Candela is bringing its hydrofoil electric boat, the Candela P-12, to the Maldives, promising faster, cleaner and seasick-free transfers from the airport to the remote atoll. The Maldivian atoll faces a serious threat from the thousands of twin-engine speedboats that ferry tourists and locals across the archipelago.
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These traditional gasoline-powered boats burn about 5 liters of fuel per mile, create large waves that erode coral and emit CO₂, which is among the worst emissions in the country. The Candela P-12 flies 1.5 meters above the water’s surface on two computer-controlled hydrofoils, reducing energy consumption by 80% compared to conventional hulls, allowing for long-range electric operation. The vessel produces minimal wave and engine noise, drastically reducing the impact on reef ecosystems and marine life.
The experience aboard the Candela P-12 is described as a “magic carpet”: air-conditioned cabin, wi-fi, entertainment screens, refreshment service, wheelchair and stroller access, and virtually no waves, no hull bumps and no seasickness. In 2026, a fleet of ten P-12s will begin operating between Male International Airport and the outer island resorts, operated by operator Ego Shuttle, which has also signed up for an additional ten units. This will be the first electric boat deployment in the Maldives and the largest fleet of hydrofoil electric boats in the world.
The vessels will be assembled, maintained and operated locally, with a logistics center and green job training for Maldivian workers. The Maldives will now join other countries integrating the Candela P-12 into their own sustainable overwater transportation system, from Thailand to New Zealand, among others.
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Candela was founded a little over a decade ago with a mission to design and build faster, more efficient, cleaner vessels that outperform fossil-fueled vessels. The company has become world-renowned for its hydrofoil features that lift the hull out of the water, dramatically reducing drag and therefore energy use. Candela’s P-12 vessels are already in service in Stockholm.
One of the first pilot vessels, the Nova, reportedly reduced the travel time of a 15km journey to 30 minutes, while using 84% less energy per passenger-kilometre than the diesel-powered ferry it replaced. This is a major step forward for the sustainability of island states and for the electrification of maritime transport.
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The Maldives faces existential threats from climate change and ecosystem degradation, so reducing boat noise, waves and emissions is both environmentally urgent and commercially smart, as tourism depends on healthy reefs. Despite the other major social challenges the country still faces, it is encouraging to see real progress on the environmental front.
