SeaBubbles, “the Uber” of water taxis, due for tests this year

French start-up SeaBubbles plans to be the Uber for water taxis with tests of its hydrofoil and electric powered craft set to proceed on the Seine this year.

In 2016, the company revealed its plans to revolutionise urban travel with a network of car-shaped river shuttles equipped with four hydrofoils and two electric motors using mainly solar power.

The plan is to have them on major city waterways worldwide for use in a personalised, on-demand ferry service.

Alain Thebault and Anders Bringdal, a sailor and windsurfer respectively, started SeaBubbles in early 2016. They have a number of backers.

SeaBubbles aimed to be in 50 cities by 2024.

However, it faces enormous financial and regulatory challenges, and has to create an entire transportation network from scratch, The Verge reported last year.

That proved true with the project looking unlikely in October, before a breakthrough late last year with authorities reaching agreement with SeaBubbles to runs tests on the Seine at up to 30km/h when boat speeds are usually about 12-18km/h to help avoid wash.

That means the water taxi tests can proceed this year.

Thebault says the speed limits are designed to avoid big boats making waves which damage the river banks, but that the SeaBubbles make barely any waves because of their hydrofoil use which significantly reduces drag.

About five to 10 of the craft, which take up to four passengers and a pilot, could be on the river shortly.