Dutch startup Elysian has unveiled the design of an all-electric regional aircraft (see this rendering). The company says the plane will have a range of 500 miles.
CNN quoted Reynard de Vries, director of design and engineering at Elysian, who said: “Many experts say that you need battery technology beyond 2050 (whatever will be available by then) to achieve adequate range and payload capacity.”
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The E9X will be designed to integrate seamlessly into existing airport infrastructure and will not require any changes or upgrades. However, turnaround time could be a challenge due to the longer battery charging process compared to refueling. “Our current target is a maximum charging time of 45 minutes, which would mean a slightly longer turnaround time than some airlines are used to, particularly the low-cost carriers. But that’s the upper limit – the average time will be around half an hour.”
Dutch startup Elysian is challenging prevailing assumptions with its plans for an all-electric regional aircraft. This aircraft will have a range of 500 miles (805 kilometers), carry 90 passengers and achieve a 90% reduction in emissions. The goal is to enter commercial operation within a decade.
Battery technology will not be based on one major breakthrough, according to de Vries, but on current advances and expected developments over the next four to five years. “This opens up various scenarios,” he notes. “The most conservative scenario assumes a usable range of 300 miles (482 kilometers), but we believe that 500 miles in four years is a more realistic goal.”
The E9X will be equipped with eight propeller engines and have a wingspan of nearly 42 meters, which is larger than a Boeing 737 or Airbus A320, although both aircraft can carry more than twice as many passengers. The E9X will also have a slimmer fuselage, which de Vries said will improve both structural integrity and aerodynamic efficiency, CNN reported.
