Vessev's $19M-Backed Electric Hydrofoil Ferry Targets NYC Transit

Vessev, a startup that raised a $19 million Series A in August, has built a one-of-a-kind electric hydrofoil ferry it believes can augment urban mass transit in cities like New York.

The vessel, called the VS-9, is a roughly 30-foot catamaran fitted with two wing-like hydrofoils under the hull. As the boat gains speed, the foils lift the hull clear of the water, eliminating the bounce and slap that conventional boats of this size produce. Computer-controlled underwater flaps keep the ride smooth and stable. The front foil does most of the lifting, with the rear foil handling about 20%.

The rear foil also carries the electric motor, which Vessev builds in-house rather than outsourcing. Co-founder and CEO Eric Laakmann said keeping motor production internal helps control costs. "Eventually, you'll have to bring production in house, so why not do it earlier in development?" he said. Batteries are the only component Vessev does not manufacture. "Those have been commoditized," Laakmann said.

The efficiency case is straightforward. By lifting the hull out of the water, hydrofoils reduce drag, which matters especially for electric boats where every kilowatt-hour counts. Shipbuilders have experimented with hydrofoils for well over a century, drawn by lower drag and a smoother ride.

The design has limits. Hydrofoils work best in waters the boat can clear while flying on its foils. For the VS-9, that clearance is about two and a half feet, or 0.75 meters. Waves higher than that hit the hull, degrading the ride and sapping efficiency. That rules out the open ocean, but lakes, rivers and bays remain fair game — which is why the VS-9 demonstrator runs routes like the East River between the Brooklyn Marina and Governors Island.

Laakmann argues the combination of electric propulsion and hydrofoils can bring down the operating cost of smaller vessels and make them comfortable enough to supplement urban transit systems. In a city like New York, the boats could shuttle passengers to Brooklyn or Queens without requiring much new infrastructure.

Transit operators are Vessev's first target market. Hotels and tour operators form a second early segment, and public demonstrations of the VS-9 have already attracted wealthy individuals looking for another toy, Laakmann said.

For now, the VS-9 remains a single prototype. Laakmann said Vessev plans to build more, and over time the company may shift toward producing electric hydrofoil kits that other boatbuilders could use to design their own vessels around the technology. If the kit strategy works, Vessev would move from selling boats to supplying the propulsion and foiling platform beneath them.