San Francisco, California, USA

“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 the electrification of the majority of ferry routes across the world.”

Boundary Layer Technologies, a California-based marine technology startup has launched their “Electra”—a fully electric hydrofoil ferry concept design and an exciting development in ferry technology that shows promise for decarbonizing ferry operations.

For its sustainable and futuristic design, ELECTRA – Electric Ferry has recently been awarded a 2022 Good Design Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

Electra, which is fittingly named after the Greek Goddess of the Sea Clouds, promises to be an eco-friendly ruler of the high seas. 

Powerboats, catamarans, and luxury yachts have all been given wings; now the ferry too.

This new ferry —twice the speed and range of existing electric ferries— has a range of up to 100 nautical miles and a cruise speed of 40 knots due to Boundary Layer Technology’s proprietary hydrofoil technology and podded propulsion system. 

In short, the foils lift the ferry up and out of the water to reduce drag by a factor of two.

This means Electra churns through half the energy of her battery-powered peers and thus boasts better performance specs. 

“This opens the door to the electrification of the majority of ferry routes across the world,” continued Kearney.

Compared to fossil fuel alternatives, ELECTRA’s battery-electric propulsion significantly reduces cabin noise by up to 20dB compared to conventional ferries. Its foiling system also offers excellent seakeeping and ride comfort.

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. 

Electra could service more than 90 percent of commuter ferry routes in the US, as well as several far-reaching international sea lanes. 

Electra will also be fitted with a 9,000 kWh battery pack below deck that can be recharged in as little as three hours.

The 150 passengers onboard will likely enjoy a nice comfortable ride, too. 

The foiling system minimizes wake and increases overall seakeeping, while the battery-electric propulsion reduces cabin noise by up to 20 decibels compared to conventional ferries.

Boundary-Layer Technologies expects to have the first ferries in operation by the first quarter of 2024 in regions such as the US, Scandinavia, and the Mediterranean.

Project: Electra: An All-Electric Foiling Ferry 
Designers: Boundary Layer Technologies
Manufacturer: Boundary Layer Technologies