Vessev’s Electric Hydrofoil: The Ferry That Flies Above The Waves

Key Takeaways

• Smooth Sailing, Sustainable Future:Vessev’s VS-9 electric hydrofoil ferry offers a remarkably smooth, “sports car-like” ride, revolutionizing water transit with efficiency and comfort.
• Efficiency is Electric Gold:By lifting its hull above the water, hydrofoil technology drastically reduces drag, making electric propulsion viable and highly efficient for urban waterways, maximizing range and minimizing energy consumption.
• Strategic Innovation for Market Entry:Vessev’s approach, including in-house motor manufacturing and leveraging commoditized batteries, aims to control costs and accelerate the adoption of electric hydrofoils in the burgeoning transit sector.

“When will we start flying?” I asked Vessev co-founder and CEO Eric Laakmann, as we pulled away from the Brooklyn marina in the startup’s VS-9 electric ferry. “We already are.”

I’ll admit I was a bit disappointed. I thought the moment when it transitioned from sailing like a regular boat to almost-flying as a surface-skimming hydrofoil would be more … momentous. My mind conjured images of a sudden lift, a noticeable shift, perhaps even a subtle jolt. Instead, it was an almost imperceptible glide, a testament to the sophisticated engineering beneath the surface.

Having been on my share of boats – from large, lumbering ferries to nimble sailboats and countless others in between – I’d never experienced a hydrofoil. My curiosity was piqued, eager to discover what “flying along the water” truly felt like during the brief ride from the Brooklyn Marina out toward Governors Island on the East River in New York.

The Subtle Sensation of “Flight”

It didn’t feel like flying in the traditional sense, but it was remarkably akin to riding in a high-performance sports car. The ride was incredibly smooth, devoid of the typical choppiness and hull-slapping common to conventional vessels. Traditional boats of this size — about 30 feet — typically begin to bounce and slap the water with increasing speed, generating significant wake and discomfort. On the VS-9, as we accelerated, that’s precisely when the hydrofoils began to do their work, transforming the ride from merely sailing to a serene glide.

Unpacking Hydrofoil Technology: How Vessev Lifts Off

On the surface, the VS-9 presents itself as a sleek, modern catamaran, not unlike many other multi-hull designs. However, its true innovation lies beneath the waterline. Underneath the hull are two wing-like structures, the hydrofoils, designed to lift the boat as they slice through the water. These foils are akin to airplane wings, generating lift as water flows over and under them, effectively raising the main hull clear of the surface.

This dynamic lift is not merely a passive phenomenon. Computer-controlled underwater flaps actively manage the foils, ensuring the ride remains exceptionally smooth and stable, even as conditions change. In the VS-9, most of the lifting force – roughly 80% – is generated by the front foil, with the remaining 20% handled by the rear. This precise distribution and active control contribute significantly to the seamless transition and stable ride I experienced.

Shipbuilders and inventors have been experimenting with hydrofoils for well over a century, recognizing their inherent advantages. The design fundamentally reduces the wetted surface area, which is the amount of boat hull in contact with the water. This reduction dramatically decreases hydrodynamic drag, leading to a host of benefits, including higher speeds and, critically for electric propulsion, significantly lower energy consumption. The subtle transition I experienced on the VS-9, from sailing to almost-flying, truly underlined just how smooth and efficient a modern hydrofoil can be.

Vessev’s Strategic Build: Powering the Future of Water Transit

The rear foil also conveniently houses the electric motor, a critical component that Vessev manufactures in-house. When asked about this decision, Laakmann emphasized its importance for cost control and long-term viability. “Eventually, you’ll have to bring production in house,” he explained, suggesting that doing so earlier in the development cycle allows for greater control over design, quality, and ultimately, the unit economics. This strategic vertical integration is crucial for scaling up and making electric hydrofoils competitive. The only major component Vessev currently outsources are the batteries. “Those have been commoditized,” Laakmann noted, indicating a pragmatic approach to leveraging existing, cost-effective supply chains where appropriate.

By lifting the hull clear of the water, hydrofoils can operate with significantly greater efficiency than traditional displacement boats. This efficiency is paramount for electric vessels, where every kilowatt-hour of battery power directly translates to range and operational cost. Reduced drag means less energy is wasted fighting the water, allowing for longer routes, higher speeds, or smaller, lighter battery packs, which further reduces cost and complexity. The VS-9 is also designed for practicality, capable of charging using a typical EV charger, making infrastructure integration simpler for transit operators.

Navigating the Limitations: Where Hydrofoils Truly Shine

Despite hydrofoils’ significant advantages, they are not a universal panacea for all maritime challenges. The design inherently works best in waters calm enough for the boat to clear when sailing on its foils. For the VS-9, that optimal clearance is about two and a half feet, or 0.75 meters. If wave heights consistently exceed this threshold, the hull begins to hit the water, disrupting the smooth ride and significantly sapping efficiency as the drag increases. Therefore, while revolutionary, these vessels are not ideally suited for the turbulent conditions of the open ocean.

However, this limitation also clearly defines their ideal operational environment: sheltered waterways. Hydrofoils make immense sense for a vast array of other routes, including lakes, rivers, and bays – precisely the kind of environments where urban and inter-city water transit operates. Their ability to minimize wake is another critical environmental benefit, reducing erosion along sensitive shorelines and minimizing disturbance to marine life, a factor increasingly important for sustainable urban planning.

The Future of Urban Water Transit

Vessev, which successfully raised a $19 million Series A in August, is strategically targeting transit operations as its initial market. Laakmann and his team believe that the potent combination of efficient electric propulsion and hydrofoil technology can fundamentally transform how people move across urban waterways. Imagine faster, quieter, and cleaner commutes across bustling harbors and rivers, offering a viable alternative to congested road networks. The minimal wake, coupled with zero emissions, makes these vessels not just technologically advanced but also environmentally responsible, aligning perfectly with global sustainability goals for urban transportation.

Bottom Line

Vessev’s VS-9 represents more than just an innovative boat; it’s a compelling glimpse into the future of sustainable water transit. By harnessing the century-old principle of hydrofoils and pairing it with cutting-edge electric propulsion and a strategic manufacturing approach, Vessev is poised to make urban water travel faster, smoother, and vastly more environmentally friendly. While current limitations confine it to calmer waters, its potential to alleviate urban congestion, reduce carbon footprints, and offer an unparalleled passenger experience positions electric hydrofoils like the VS-9 as a critical component in building smart, green cities of tomorrow.