California Startup Inches Closer To Building A Fast Electric Foiling Ferry

With much of the world’s ferry fleet in need of renewal and increasing regulatory pressure to cut emissions, operators are seeking alternatives without forsaking the performance and cost benefits of diesel ferries. One California marine technology startup has partnered with an electrical drivetrain manufacturer to develope a fast solution to this problem: fast hydrofoiling electric ferries.

Boundary Layer Technologies (BLT) singed a letter of intent with Danfoss’ Editron division for the supply the electrical drivetrain system required to power its hydrofoiling electric ferry, ELECTRA. The system will be coupled with BLT’s proprietary podded z-drive propulsion system.

ELECTRA has a proposed range of up to 100 nautical miles and a cruise speed of 40 knots thanks to the combination of a proprietary hydrofoil technology and podded propulsion system.

“This is twice the speed and range of existing electric ferries on the market” says Kearney. “From an economics standpoint, the electric capability results in a near 35% lifetime reduction in operating costs for a vessel owner compared to a standard diesel powered ferry.

EDITRON Marine System is a complete DC based power plant and propulsion system specifically designed for marine vessels. This includes DC-distribution, electric power generation, energy storage utilization, propulsion and thruster drivetrains, and overall control and monitoring of the system. The system will be coupled with BLT’s proprietary podded z-drive propulsion system.

“The combination of Danfoss’ Editron division electrical drivetrain system and BLT’s hydrofoiling technology will “We’re most excited by the lightweight design and small size of these drives, says Jeremy Osborne, CTO of Boundary Layer Technologies. ”They are world-class and enable us to offer a longer range and better reliability.”

The company hopes to deliver the first ELECTRAs to customers by Q1 2024 in markets including the United States, Scandinavia, and the Mediterranean. 

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