Vessev’s VS-9 Electric Ferry Uses Hydrofoils to Glide Above Water

Vessev’s VS-9 is an electric ferry that lifts its hull above the water on hydrofoils. TechCrunch’s Tim De Chant rode the vessel from Brooklyn Marina toward Governors Island on New York’s East River with co-founder and CEO Eric Laakmann.

The roughly 30-foot catamaran has two wing-like foils beneath its hull. Computer-controlled underwater flaps help keep the ride smooth and stable. The front foil provides most of the lift, while the rear handles about 20% and also carries an electric motor made in-house by Vessev. The company buys its batteries from other suppliers, which Laakmann said have become commoditized.

Hydrofoils reduce drag by lifting a boat clear of the water, potentially improving efficiency. The VS-9 works best when waves are no higher than about two and a half feet, or 0.75 meters. Higher waves can hit the hull, disrupting the ride and reducing efficiency. De Chant said the transition to foil-borne travel felt smooth, though not like flying.

Vessev raised a $19 million Series A in August and is initially targeting transit operators, hotels, and tour operators. Laakmann said the company may later produce hydrofoil kits for other boatbuilders. The VS-9 that De Chant rode was the only one of its kind at the time of the report, though Vessev plans to build more.