SeaBubbles

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SeaBubbles is a startup founded in 2016 by Alain Thébault, the designer of Hydroptère, and Anders Bringdal, a four-time windsurfing world champion. They create electric hydrofoil boats the size of small cars, proposed as water taxis for cities. A French team developed a five‑person SeaBubble water taxi. After testing an 1/8 scale model, they raised €500,000 in July 2016 to fund the next stage. Full‑size prototypes were built and tested on the Seine in Paris in 2017, traveling between two landing stages. By December 2019, about 40 units had been ordered. The boats are designed for no‑wake zones: they rise from the water after a few meters and can run at 11–15 km/h, using four skids. This reduces water drag by about 40% and could allow speeds up to 46 km/h. Power comes from two electric propellers at the rear skids, with batteries recharged at landings using a mix of solar panels and turbines. A full‑size prototype tested in March 2017 showed the Bubble is silent and creates no wake, helping protect river banks and producing no emissions during travel.