Vessev built an electric ferry that almost flies

The "almost flies" framing in the headline is apt, because hydrofoils occupy a strange middle ground between boating and aviation. When the foils lift the vessel clear of the water, the physics change entirely: wave drag disappears, and the ride smooths out dramatically. That's not just a comfort feature—it's the enabling condition for electric propulsion. A conventional ferry burns enormous energy just pushing water aside; a foiling ferry only has to push air. This is the same logic that made hydrofoil military craft and racing yachts so compelling, but applying it to public transit is where the real promise lies. Vessev is not alone in this space—Candela has been running its P-12 in Stockholm, and other startups are eyeing similar routes—but the timing matters. Battery density has improved enough that a foiling ferry can carry a useful number of passengers over a useful distance without needing to haul a ship-sized battery pack. The economics are still unproven at scale, and charging infrastructure at docks is its own headache. But the core engineering bet is sound: reduce drag, and electrification becomes viable where it previously wasn't. The broader story here is about rethinking infrastructure. Roads are congested, rail expansions are expensive and slow, and most coastal cities have underutilized waterways sitting right in front of them. Electric ferries have historically been dismissed because their speed and range made them impractical for commuters who are used to cars or trains. Hydrofoils change that equation by making electric boats genuinely competitive on time. The question is whether cities will build the docks, charging stations, and scheduling systems to make ferry networks feel like transit rather than a tourist excursion. There's also a cultural dimension worth watching. Ferries have a reputation for being slow, noisy, and utilitarian. A hydrofoil that glides silently at speed challenges that perception in a visceral way—riders feel the difference, and that experience can shift public appetite for maritime options. Vessev's bet is that once people ride in something that "almost flies," they won't want to go back to the old way of crossing the water. That's a bold claim, but it's the kind of experiential proof that often matters more than spec sheets. Source: https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/03/vessev-built-an-electric-ferry-that-almost-flies/