In the rapidly accelerating race for auto alternatives in major cities across the globe, one promising solution has emerged from French yachtsman Alain Thébault and Swedish windsurfer Anders Bringdal: the "flying" water taxi. The transport system, consisting of futuristic black-and-white SeaBubbles, was first unveiled in late 2016 and will undergo testing in Paris later this year.
Beyond operating as alternatives to cars, the solar-powered, zero-emissions taxis are eco-friendly in their own right. Each vessel is equipped to handle four passengers along with one pilot and, if the test goes as planned, will be available on demand via ride-sharing apps like Uber. Positive initial feedback has allowed Thébault and Bringdal to raise over $500,000 in seed funding to build their prototypes, with many interested parties ready to place orders as soon as the taxis are up and running.
The two entrepreneurs are no strangers to aquatic innovation, having made a name for themselves in 2009 with a sailboat able to reach record-breaking speeds on the high seas.
