Dutch company Elysian announced its development plans electric plane that should be able to carry 90 passengers. In the published documents, he states that “large battery powered aircraft can carry much more power and are more aerodynamically efficient than previously thought”. It brings details TechSpot magazine.
Elysian unveiled its plans at SciTech 2024 – the world’s largest aerospace research and development event. The company claims the proposed E9X aircraft will carry more passengers and fly further than previously thought possible with an electric aircraft.
Elysian E9X aircraft
The ability to accommodate 90 people and fly up to 850 kilometers per charge is much higher than current estimates for electric airliners, which are limited to around 20 passengers and less than 320 kilometers.
The design of the Elysian aircraft uses the concept of an underbody wing configuration and the advantages of electric propulsion. The E9X concept is low-wing aircraft with a wingspan of 42 meters with hinged ends to allow the machine to fit even in smaller hangars. It is equipped with a battery with an energy density of 360 Wh/kg.
The machine is to be powered by eight propellers, and at the rear of its fuselage is a turbogenerator that provides energy for the next 45 minutes of flight. Elysian claims it is exclusively for emergency backup measures, not about the effort to extend the range, which would de facto make the airplane a hybrid machine. The battery including packaging weighs 35 tons, which is 46% of the maximum take-off weight of 76 tons.
Maybe in ten years
Before the E9X becomes a reality, several technical issues will need to be resolved, including reducing battery charging time, heat dissipation, and the design and certification of a backup power system. The company has therefore established cooperation with the universities of Twente and Delft and the national research institutes for aeronautics and space in the Netherlands and Germany, with which they will try to find a solution.
Elysian Chief Commercial Officer Daniel Rosen Jacobsen, along with CEO Rob Wolleswinkel, say it will cost $8-10 billion to bring the E9X into production. The company has managed to raise $10 million so far, so it still has a long way to go. Still, both managers believe that the aircraft will be put into service by 2033.
Aviation is responsible for 2.5% of all global carbon dioxide emissions. As with automobiles, it is hoped that the transition to electric aircraft will have significant environmental benefits. Elysian predicts that compared to other sustainable technologies, electric aircraft could achieve up to six times more energy efficiency per kilometer and passenger.
2024-01-13 15:45:12
#Dutch #build #electric #plane #capable #carrying #passengers #range
