‘Electric sky jeep’ plane completes maiden flight with hopes to transport doctors and supplies to countries in need
A UK-based aviation project called NUNCATS has successfully completed the maiden flight of its all-electric plane, described as an “electric sky jeep.” Looking ahead, the project’s goal is to expand the availability of healthcare by transporting doctors, medical supplies, and other cargo to remote parts of the world with zero emissions, helping save lives.
Expand Expanding CloseZeroAvia successfully completes first flight of world’s largest hydrogen-electric plane [Video]
Less than a month after receiving a permit to fly from the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), hydrogen-electric plane developer ZeroAvia has successfully completed the first flight of its 19-passenger aircraft. It’s maiden flight marks the record for the largest aircraft in the world to be powered by a hydrogen-electric engine, representing a huge moment for clean aviation.
Expand Expanding CloseZeroAvia nears takeoff with its 19-passenger hydrogen-electric plane
Hydrogen-electric plane developer ZeroAvia has come one step closer to performing the first test flight of its hydrogen electric plane equipped with a 600kW powertrain. The company has received a permit from the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to takeoff soon.
Expand Expanding CloseHarbour Air successfully completes first point-to-point test flight in all-electric plane
Seaplane airline Harbour Air continues to make progress toward making its entire fleet of planes electric by successfully completing its first point-to point test flight in Canada. The eBeaver electric plane flew 45 miles with plenty of reserve power left when it landed.
Expand Expanding CloseZeroAvia secures $30M in additional funding to get its hydrogen-electric planes to the skies
Hydrogen-electric plane developer ZeroAvia announced it has garnered an additional $30 million in funding from both new and returning investors, including International Airlines Group (IAG). The aviation company’s Series B funding round now totals $68 million, which will be used to get its forty to eighty seat planes into operation by 2026.
Expand Expanding CloseRolls Royce proclaims ‘Spirit of Innovation’ e-plane fastest electric vehicle in the world at 387 mph
Rolls-Royce Holdings has publicly claimed it believes its Spirit of Innovation all-electric plane is the fastest electric vehicle in the world, following three new speed records. The flight data has been submitted to the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) with the hopes the organization will soon certify and officially confirm these world records.
Expand Expanding CloseAlaska Air and ZeroAvia are developing a 500-mile range hydrogen-electric plane
Alaska Air Group, the parent company of Alaska Airlines, is collaborating with ZeroAvia to develop a hydrogen-electric powertrain that will be implemented on a 76 passenger plane. When completed, the ZA2000 hydrogen-electric powertrain should boast 2,000-5,000 kW of power with a 500-mile range. As a new investor in ZeroAvia, Alaska Air plans to electrify its aviation to meet its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2040.
Expand Expanding CloseRolls-Royce taps Jaguar’s I-Pace to support its electric airplane during world-record-attempt flight
The Spirit of Innovation, a Rolls-Royce all-electric airplane, is scheduled to take flight for the first time soon, and will be towed around the tarmac by a Jaguar I-Pace as a support vehicle. Rolls-Royce plans to attempt a world record flight with the Spirit of Innovation by reaching a target flight speed of over 300 mph.
Expand Expanding CloseHarbour Air looks to certify its all-electric commercial airplane
North America’s largest seaplane airline, Harbour Air, announced a partnership with magniX and H55 to produce what it is calling “the world’s first certified all-electric commercial airplane.” The new partnership will continue to develop and certify its electric Beaver (eBeaver) commuter plane through a supplemental type certificate (STC) program in Canada.
Expand Expanding CloseElectric plane crash-lands into lake in another setback for electric flight
An electric plane has crash-landed into a lake in Norway earlier this week in another blow to the current effort to electrify flight.
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This 32kW plane will fly twice as high as commercial jets on SunPower
SunPower isn’t just powering roofs and solar farms these days. The company, which touts its solar panels as the most durable and efficient on the market, is looking at other applications. I’d be hard pressed to find one as awesome as the upcoming Mission SolarStratos expedition which will be powered by its 22-24% efficient Maxeon™ solar cells.
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After leading electric car adoption, Norway now aims to lead electric flight
Norway has been leading the world for electric car adoption for years now. In December, EVs represented over 50% of new car sales – something that no other country can come close to at this point.
But now they have the ambition to also move to electric flight with a new goal to have all short-haul flights be all-electric by 2040.
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Electric plane startup steps out of stealth mode to announce plan for 150-seat battery-powered plane
Battery-powered air travel is not currently commercially viable simply because the energy storage capacity of batteries has yet to compensate for their heavy weight. A lot of companies are eyeing the possibility as energy density is improving and we have seen some progress with Airbus’’ E-Fan being the first electric plane to successfully fly across the English Channel.
Now a new startup is trying the more ambitious goal of building a battery-powered 150-seat plane to compete with 737-size aircrafts in the market for short-haul trips (under 300 miles).
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