Electric Hydrofoils: Why Lower Drag Is Not Enough

Electric hydrofoils may sound like a straightforward upgrade—lift the hull to cut drag and use less energy—but the economics still decide whether they can work. The article reviews the case of Artemis EF-12, an electric hydrofoil pilot boat ordered by Antwerp’s pilotage operator Brabo in August 2024. The vessel combines electric propulsion with submerged foils and active controls, and its Pilot design entered sea trials in 2026, with Artemis also demonstrating ship-contact maneuvers on its EF-12 workboat platform. The key question is how much time the boat can operate at high speed while piloting in constrained waters near locks and docks. A Python-based operating model with synthetic assignments estimated the EF-12 would foil only about 0%, 6%, or 13% of underway time. In the central scenario, a 15-year discounted cost was about €5.32 million versus €3.81 million for a conventional diesel tender. The analysis suggests energy savings weren’t enough to offset capital costs.