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The World's First Flying Electric Ferry Set to Debut in Lake Tahoe

FlyTahoe and Candela worked together to create a flying electric ferry that will operate as a water taxi around Lake Tahoe.

GT Winter 2025 Big Picture Tahoe
FlyTahoe
The world’s first flying electric ferry is coming to the U.S. Candela has partnered with FlyTahoe to bring its P-12 foiling electric ferry to North America’s largest alpine lake, Lake Tahoe, nestled in the Sierra Nevada between California and Nevada. The craft will serve as a water taxi, ferrying passengers between popular destinations around the lake. 

With a cruising speed of about 25 knots (30 mph), the P-12 will be able to convey passengers between the 14 ski resorts throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin in just 30 minutes. It seats up to 30 people and has room for ski equipment in the winter and bikes in the summer. Candela estimates the onboard battery can last for 40 nautical miles, and it supports charging speeds up to 200-kW DC. 

The P-12 made its debut in Stockholm, Sweden, in 2023 and is now in full service as a ferry there. Service on Lake Tahoe is expected to begin in late 2025 or early 2026. “Our service will provide a faster transport than cars or buses, while keeping the lake blue,” said Ryan Meinzer, CEO of FlyTahoe. 

This story originally appeared in the Winter 2025 issue of Government Technology magazine. Click here to view the full digital edition online.