Flying water taxis on the Seine

Since taking office in Paris two years ago, Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, has been working to make the City of Light greener, among other things, by turning a fast road along the river into a pedestrian-only street. It has now given the green light to an innovation development that is both futuristic and eco-friendly. Welcome to the Sea Bubble, an egg-shaped, zero-carbon vehicle that is scheduled to travel on the Seine, avoiding the severe traffic problems of Paris.

The Sea Bubble is the invention of a French yacht fan, Alain Thebault, and a Swedish windsurfer, Anders Bringdal. The vehicle is scheduled to be tested in the spring of 2017. Based on their website, Thebault has been flirting with the idea of ​​”Sea Bubble” for twenty years now, inspired by several months of sailing, wondering what it would be like if his ship could fly. The last spark of the invention comes from the time he got home, which he remembers: “I was asked to design a zero-carbon vehicle because people were tired of seeing so much dirt in the big cities.”

The five-person Sea Bubble is made from lightweight ingredients, and the compressed foam and fiberglass allow it to fly two feet high above the water. A solar-powered vehicle can reach speeds of up to 30 km / h.

The price will be around 30 thousand euros. Thébault hopes passengers will also use an Uber-like app for the taxi-powered vehicle.

Mayor Hidalgo has supported the idea from the outset, unlike the mayor of London. He hopes that in addition to Paris, Geneva and New York can also become potential buyers. Who will need a train in the future if you can also cross the Hudson River in a floating bubble ?