We’ve been following the progress of the incredibly ambitious Neom project since its announcement in 2017. It involves a 105-mile-long, 660ft-wide, and 1,600ft-high megacity called The Line. Now, we know how some of its tourists and residents will get around.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud's plan is to transform 10,200 square miles (26,500 square kilometers) of land in northwestern Saudi Arabia into a lush sustainable development for millions of residents and tourists by 2039. Work is already underway on the multi-trillion dollar project, and the crown prince has recently sought to silence critics while also reassuring investors that everything is going according to plan.
While Neom aims to place the neighborhood’s major amenities within reach of pedestrians and cyclists, electric shuttles and underground transportation systems will carry citizens and tourists further afield. When getting around involves crossing waterways, people can fly above the surface thanks to the Candela P-12 electric water taxi.
That's because Neom has ordered the first fleet of eight zero-emission cruise ships, which entered production last year and are expected to be introduced to the public as part of Stockholm's public transport system next autumn, to serve the project's planned water network.
Candlestick
“The P-12 is designed to create zero-emission water transportation systems that provide significant improvements over traditional water transportation,” said Gustav Hasselskog, founder and CEO of Candela. “Unlike legacy systems with large, slow and energy-inefficient traditional ferries, the Candela P-12 is a smaller, faster unit, enabling much more frequent departures and faster journeys for passengers. All daily needs and services will be just a short boat ride away.”
The P-12 can carry up to 30 passengers, depending on configuration, and once takeoff speed is reached, it ascends to the surface via computer-guided hydrofoils. The C-POD engines can reach a service speed of 25 knots (28.77 mph), while the 252 kWh battery bank is rated to last over 2 hours per charge.
The system is “extraordinarily quiet,” Candela says, and creates “only a negligible footprint.” A 2022 lifecycle analysis by KTH Royal Institute of Technology found the P-12 would “emit 97.5% less CO2 over its lifetime compared to a conventional diesel ship of the same size.”
The purchase deal represents the largest yet for Candela, with deliveries to Saudi Arabia expected to take place between 2025 and early 2026. The video below shows what kind of experience Neom tourists can expect.
Smart Water Mobility by Candela: Unlocking the potential of water
Source: Candela