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SeaBubbles - electric water taxi on foils

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The SeaBubbles futuristic water taxi was tested on Lake Geneva.

SeaBubbles is an all-electric hydrofoil vehicle. It has a 20 kWh battery on board which collects solar energy from panels installed on the vessel and powers two 10 kW electric motors.

According to preliminary calculations, the battery capacity is enough to propel the boat for about an hour without recharging.

Underwater wings lift SeaBubbles above the water when the vessel reaches a speed of 6 knots. The water taxi accommodates five people, counting the pilot.

By May the water taxi will be equipped with an advisory system from ABB Octopus that will help optimize its route planning.

The developers hope to launch a water taxi on rivers and lakes of European cities as early as next year.

The first such city will be Geneva.

Initially, it was planned to start with Paris, but the project faced numerous administrative obstacles. In particular, strict speed limits and the high cost of pontoons on the banks of the Seine.

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