Yahoo Autos Polestar Will Supply Candela Boats with Batteries
EV maker Polestar will supply Sweden's Candela, manufacturer of electric hydrofoils, with batteries and charging systems.
Candela offers small hydrofoils powered by 40-kWh batteries, with a range of 50 nautical miles.
Polestar is expected to rely on a new gigafactory being built by Northvolt in Gothenburg, Sweden, for EV batteries in the near future.
Polestar hasn't been in the EV business all that long, but it's already in the process of becoming a battery supplier to other manufacturers. But in this case, the manufacturer isn't even an automaker—it's a boat maker.
Polestar has struck a multi-year deal to provide batteries and charging systems to Swedish hydrofoil electric boat company Candela. The company has become known for its computer-guided hydrofoils that allow its small boats to fly above the surface of the water, thereby using up to 80% less energy when traveling at high speeds, versus traditional boats.
The deal marks the first of its type for Polestar, which at the moment is experiencing many of the same supply-chain pressures as other EV makers. However, Candela's production output is sized just right for this collaboration.
"I am fascinated by the way Candela’s boats glide elegantly and efficient through, or better, over the water—amazing proof of the great aesthetics and experiences modern, sustainable technology can create," said Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath.
The EV maker has recently partnered with Northvolt AB to build the first gigafactory in Gothenburg, Sweden, which will also supply Volvo vehicles. The plant will open in 2025, and is designed to produce batteries for approximately half a million EVs annually. However, at the moment Polestar sources batteries from LG and CATL, as do many other EV makers.
"That Polestar will be part of future projects with Candela by supplying an essential part for the innovative propulsion of their boats, is awesome. As a battery supplier to Candela, we can help drive the transition to cleaner oceans and lakes, and electrify waterborne transport," Ingenlath added.
A year ago Candela revealed the C-8 hydrofoil powered by a 40-kWh battery, giving it a range of 50 nautical miles at 22 knots, and a top speed of 30 knots.
An earlier model, dubbed C-7, offered a range of 50 nautical miles at 20 knots, but had a production run of just 32 examples, which ended in 2021. The C-8 is meant to be more of a mass-produced boat, with Candela having sold 150 examples so far.
Other electric boats are in the pipeline, with Candela launching the P-8 Voyager electric taxi boat and the P-12 ferry, both using the same hydrofoil technology.
"Polestar is a dream partner for us," said Gustav Hasselskog, CEO of Candela. "While electrification of cars has come a long way in the last few years, the marine sector has fallen behind. Marrying our efficient hydrofoil technology to high-capacity batteries from Polestar means we can speed up the mass market adoption of electric boats together."
