A new direct-current fast-charging station for electric boats is now running at Tahoe Keys Marina in South Lake Tahoe, and the company behind it says this is the first charger of its kind on the lake's South Shore. FlyTahoe, the company developing a proposed electric hydrofoil ferry network for Lake Tahoe, announced the installation this week as part of a broader buildout of shoreline infrastructure tied to its still-unapproved passenger service.
A South Shore First, More Than a Year in the Making
According to the Sacramento Bee, the Tahoe Keys Marina charging station took more than a year to develop and gives FlyTahoe two other charging stations along the lake's shoreline, located in Tahoe City and Homewood. FlyTahoe founder and CEO Ryan Meinzer said reliable dockside fast-charging can expand opportunities for commercial and recreational electric boating, and he called the new installation a major unlock for the company's sustainable water transit network, per the same report. In a statement included in a news release cited by the Bee, Meinzer said FlyTahoe is demonstrating its commitment to the Lake Tahoe region by expanding fast-charging infrastructure along the shoreline as it works to connect lakeside communities while protecting the lake itself.
The Tahoe Keys Marina charger isn't the lake's first attempt at electric boat infrastructure, though the claims about which installation came first vary by source. Homewood Resort's Marina said back in 2021 that it had opened Lake Tahoe's first on-the-water electric boat charging station, a 25-kilowatt charger capable of fully recharging an electric motorsports boat in under five hours, according to the Tahoe Fund. The following year, Tahoe City Marina switched on what Aqua superPower described as the first Aqua superPower marine fast charger installed in the United States, calling it the start of a planned network of chargers around the lake.
The Hydrofoil Fleet Behind the Charging Push
FlyTahoe's charging stations are meant to support a planned fleet that includes hydrofoil vessels from two manufacturers. The company held an on-the-water demonstration of its Vessev VS-9 boat last month, with FlyTahoe saying the vessel produces minimal wake and rides smoothly using foils that lift its hull above the water. The Tahoe Daily Tribune reports that FlyTahoe has partnered with New Zealand-based Vessev to operate VS-9 models on Lake Tahoe alongside Candela ferries, with the VS-9 described as a commercial electric hydrofoil catamaran seating up to 10 passengers that will be part of FlyTahoe's founding fleet.
Candela PS-12 boats also use hydrofoil technology, and the Bee reports that hydrofoil propulsion can reduce energy consumption by roughly 80%, potentially allowing passengers to travel between Lake Tahoe's north and south shores in 30 minutes. The Tahoe Daily Tribune separately notes that hydrofoil technology reduces wake and drag, which in turn can reduce shoreline erosion and sediment resuspension. Vessev itself says its hydrofoil design cuts drag by about 66%, which the company says enables smaller battery packs and reduces weight and cost, as reported by The Guardian.
Permits Still Pending, No Launch Date Set
Despite the new charger and the hydrofoil demonstration, FlyTahoe has not begun passenger operations and is awaiting regulatory approval. WorkBoat reports that the company's proposed passenger network remains subject to permits and approvals from the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and other agencies. KUNR reported that as of October 29, the regional planning agency had not received a formal permit application from FlyTahoe.
Accounts of FlyTahoe's timeline diverge. The Tahoe Daily Tribune has reported the company is aiming to debut on Lake Tahoe in early 2028, while WorkBoat reported that Meinzer did not provide a timetable for the start of passenger service. FlyTahoe says it expects to receive its first fleet vessels in early 2028, but the company has said it has no expected launch date while regulatory approvals remain pending. KUNR also reported that Meinzer has floated the possibility of a fleet eventually reaching 20 vessels that could serve the roughly 20,000 trips made daily between North and South Lake Tahoe — a scenario KUNR described as a possibility rather than an adopted service plan.
A Broader Shift Toward Electric Water Transit
FlyTahoe's plans fit into a wider push toward electrifying passenger ferries across the country. The Guardian reports that San Francisco's ferry system currently runs 18 diesel-powered vessels but is preparing to add four battery-powered ferries over the next two years. The same report notes that Vessev already operates passenger hydrofoil services in New Zealand and is expanding into Australia. Replacing diesel-powered ferries with electric vessels could reduce emissions and improve air quality around busy waterfronts, according to The Guardian — a benefit FlyTahoe is betting on as it builds out its charging network well ahead of any approved launch on Lake Tahoe.
