Wonder how sea transport will look in the next two decades? Look no further than hydrofoiling. It’s a technology that’s older than a century but has now become prominent with the advancements in electric water taxi vessels. Hydrofoiling is also very cool – from the distance, it looks like the boat is flying over the water. Moreover, it allows for higher efficiency, because the boat experiences less drag from the water.
French company SeaBubbles, one of the pioneers in hydrofoiling water taxis, recently upgraded its “Bubble” boat to accommodate eight passengers. The original Bubble, which could transport four passengers plus the pilot, already operates near France’s shore, providing super-comfortable, quiet, and emission-free water transport.
Still, the new Smart Bubble aims to offer even higher efficiency by transporting seven passengers, plus one pilot. It has a spacious cabin, courtesy of the generous length of 8 meters (26.2 feet), and width of 3.5 meters (11.5 feet). The cabin is minimalistic, yet luxurious – just how you’d expect from an advanced marine vessel.
The Smart Bubble is made from composite materials to save weight and features an all-electric powertrain. It has a large 90-kWh battery, which allows around 1 hour and 15 minutes of cruising. That should be enough for short trips near the shore, but Smart Bubble also works on a larger 130-kWh variant that should expand the range to around 2 hours.
SeaBubbles says that the cruising speed of the Smart Bubble is 16 knots, which equals 18 mph or 30 km/h for land vehicles. So, at its maximum cruising speed, the Smart Bubble should cover around 35 miles (56 km) – not bad for an emission-free water taxi! However, the boat doesn’t immediately rise over the surface and floats like a regular boat up to 10 knots (12 mph/19 km/h). Patented retractable foils ensure the boat can sail in shallower waters than other hydrofoiling boats.
Crucially, thanks to its hydrofoil and electric powertrain, the Smart Bubble should offer unparalleled comfort. Once the vessel rises over the water’s surface, it’s undisturbed by the waves, offering smooth sailing, while the electric motors are almost silent.
