The new Candela C-8 ‘powered by Polestar’ is the first machine to be produced as a result of the partnership between the two Swedish mobility brands, claiming to be the world’s longest-range electric boat.
Performance electric car company, Polestar, and electric hydrofoil speedboat maker, Candela, announced a partnership in August 2022 after Polestar agreed to supply batteries and technology to power Candela’s electric boats.
“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,” said Gustav Hasselskog, CEO and founder of Candela.
The Candela C-8 ‘powered by Polestar’ will use the same 69 kWh battery pack and DC charging technology as the Polestar 2 Standard range Single motor. Candela expects a range of up to 57 nautical miles on one charge at a cruising speed of 22 knots, comparing favourably with internal combustion engine powerboats, and with a high-speed range 2-3 times longer than conventional electric speedboats.
This high electric performance at sea is possible thanks to a combination of innovative technology from both Candela and Polestar. The Candela C-8 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.
“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,” said Thomas Ingenlath, CEO of Polestar.
The supply of batteries and charging componentry to a third party in this way is a first for Polestar as an EV manufacturer and extends Polestar’s efforts to drive sustainable electric mobility beyond the automotive industry.