Boundary Layer Technologies, a California based marine technology startup launched their fully electric hydrofoil ferry concept design on 27 October 2021.
ELECTRA – twice the speed and range of existing electric ferries – has a range of up to 100 nautical miles and cruise speed of 40 knots due to Boundary Layer Technology’s proprietary hydrofoil technology and podded propulsion system.
Compared to fossil fuel alternatives, ELECTRA’s battery electric propulsion significantly reduces cabin noise by up to 20dB compared to conventional ferries.
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 was specifically designed with the Greek ferry market in mind.
“The ELECTRA ferry offers great appeal to many ferry operators in the Aegean and Mediterranean regions, who are currently evaluating their next generation highspeed craft fleet and want to comply to strict future emission regulations, reducing their environmental footprint asap” explains Pythagoras Nagos, former Chief Commercial officer of Hellenic Seaways, industry expert and a member of the ELECTRA advisory board.
The project has also gained traction with investors who are increasingly looking to fund green projects. “This would be a fantastic win for sustainable maritime transport and the blue economy. ELECTRA is the ideal zero emission catamaran to replace the aging fleet of Greek coastline hydrofoils and short haul ferries” says Spyros Poulios, Managing Partner at Athens-based impact investment fund Brace. “There is a real opportunity to form a coalition between our forward-thinking government, corporates, and global innovators to make industry-decarbonising projects like this a reality.”
