SeaBubbles - Freshwater Taxi Flies on Water
SeaBubbles is a French startup founded by sailor Alain Thebault and windsurfer Anders Bringdal that has developed a hydrofoiling electric water taxi for urban rivers and canals. Carrying up to four passengers and one pilot, the Bubble lifts its hull fully out of the water at 12 km/h, rides on hydrofoils up to 30 km/h, produces zero wake, zero noise, and zero CO2, and runs on a 20 kWh battery pack powered by dual 10 kW motors. SeaBubbles raised EUR 10 million from French insurer MAIF to move from prototype to semi-production.
How Hydrofoils Turn a Water Taxi into a Flying Vessel
Conventional water transport displaces water as it moves, creating resistance, wake, and noise. Hydrofoils change this equation by mounting the hull on underwater wings. As the vessel accelerates, these wings generate lift exactly as an aircraft wing does in air. At SeaBubbles' threshold speed of 12 km/h, the hull rises completely clear of the water surface. From that point, only the foil struts remain in contact with the water. Drag drops dramatically, the ride becomes smooth, and wake is eliminated. At full operating speed of 30 km/h, the Bubble is quieter and faster than most permitted speeds on urban waterways.
The Urban Water Network Challenge
SeaBubbles compares itself to Uber on water, but the analogy has limits. Uber launched on top of existing roads, GPS networks, and smartphone infrastructure. SeaBubbles must build its supporting infrastructure from scratch: waterside charging stations, regulatory approvals for autonomous or semi-autonomous operation on urban waterways, and agreements with city authorities. Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo tested a prototype on the Seine in 2017, and the city has since granted permission for test operations. Scaling that to a viable taxi network requires far more than the technology itself.
Founders, Funding, and VIVA Technology
Alain Thebault brought sailing expertise from offshore racing, having set world sailing speed records. Anders Bringdal contributed a windsurfing background and practical hydrofoil experience. Their combination of athletic discipline and hydrodynamic knowledge shaped a product designed from the water up rather than adapted from land transport. SeaBubbles participated in the VIVA Technology conference in Paris and has been covered by Robb Report as one of the most credible electric hydrofoil concepts to reach prototype stage, featured in their piece on hydrofoiling water taxi breakthroughs in electric boat design. AFAR published a detailed overview of the Paris testing programme at Paris Testing Eco-Friendly Water Taxis.
For electric watercraft that share the same zero-emission, hydrofoil philosophy, TheArsenale carries the Q2S electric hydrofoil boat by Quadrofoil, the Airfly e-foil, and the Beau Lake electric runabout. Browse the full TheArsenale boat and watercraft collection.
