Would you like to quickly/easily go between Ontario, Canada and Detroit, Michigan via quick water taxi? YES
A French company called SeaBubbles has been a leader in the electric boat field with an innovative and cool-looking electric water taxi that runs on hydrofoils.
The design means zero waves, emissions and noise while it glides across the water, dropping its passengers from dock to dock.
The SeaBubbles Hydrofoil Water Taxi is 16 feet long with an 8 foot beam.
Alain Thébault, who conceived the project wants to open waterways around the world to electric taxis.
The SeaBubbles service will first start in Paris, where the company just made a live demo, followed by Lyon, France, and then Geneva and Zurich, Switzerland.
San Franciso, California and Detroit, Michigan in the USA are said to be among those selected next.
“I’m dreaming of a water line between East Palo Alto and downtown San Francisco,” Thébault said. “I never want to be stuck again on Highway 101.” Los Angeles could also have a SeaBubbles system that connects Malibu to Santa Monica, and run all the way to Newport Beach. He is also considering services in Detroit, New York City, Miami, Seattle and Washington.
The SeaBubbles will employ specialized docks.
It has a launch speed of 8 mph on just its hull, and as it raises on the hydrofoils, the cruising speed jumps to 16 mph and reaches a top speed of 20 mph.
The craft will be powered by two 18-kW electric motors, fed by a 41 kW/h Lithium-ion battery pack. It takes 35 minutes to recharge.
It will carry 5 passengers and have a range of more than 40 miles.
The unit weighs 2,755 pounds and can handle a 1,100-lb. payload.
The water taxi will have a Fly-by-Wire system and the steering is done by joystick. Thébault says the hydrofoils keep the hull from rolling, preventing seasickness or violent rocking of the boat in big waves.
Rising on hydrofoils reduces water drag by 40% and improves efficiency.
The special docks will use renewable energy from water and solar power, and at times wind, to help recharge the boat’s battery packs.
Looking ahead, Thébault sees an even larger water taxi. Its HiBus, a giant version of the SeaBubbles, will carry 48 passengers with a hydrogen system for greater autonomy. This ambitious project will use a “wave-piercer” design, which is an aquatic system specially designed for locations where the regulations will not allow hydrofoil operations.
SeaBubbles Hydrofoil Water Taxi
http://www.seabubbles.com/en/bubble
