Candela C-8 boat ‘powered by Polestar’

The new Candela C-8 “powered by Polestar” is the first product from a partnership between Polestar and Candela.

The two Swedish premium mobility brands reached agreement in August 2022 for Polestar to supply batteries and technology to power Candela’s electric hydrofoil boats.

 The Candela C-8 will use the same 69kWh battery pack and DC charging technology as the Polestar 2 standard range single motor.

The boat brand is already in New Zealand.

Candela expects up to 57 nautical miles range at a 22knot cruising speed and a 30knot top speed, comparing favourably with internal combustion engine (ICE) powerboats, and with a high-speed range two or three times longer than conventional electric speedboats.

“With batteries from Polestar, the Candela C-8 becomes the first electric vessel that can travel to destinations that were previously only reachable by combustion engine boats,” says Candela founder and chief executive Gustav Hasselskog.

“The Candela C-8 powered by Polestar marks a significant breakthrough for electrification at sea.”

 The new electric boat uses an efficient direct drive pod motor – the Candela C-POD – and “flies” on computer-guided hydrofoils that lift the hull above the water at high speeds, reducing energy consumption by up to 80% compared to traditional motorboats.

Polestar also supplies DC fast charging technology for the Candela C-8, as well as sharing research and development capabilities to integrate the technology and software in a marine application to transfer it from land to sea.

 “Sharing know-how on batteries and vehicle engineering with Candela will help reach our shared goal of transitioning to a future where all forms of transport are sustainable,” says Polestar chief executive Thomas Ingenlath.

 Candela water launched the Candela C-8 last year, designed to make electric boats mainstream. It can take up to eight passengers and more than 150 units have sold to date.

This year Candela is launching the Candela P-8 Voyager taxi boat and the P-12 electric ferry, which will bring the company’s revolutionary electric hydrofoil technology to commercial vessels.

Meanwhile, the Polestar 3 launched in October 2022, and the Polestar 4 is expected to follow this year.