Electric propulsion is slowly taking over almost every transport segment, but flight remains the most difficult to electrify.
Last year, the start-up Wright Electric presented plans to make commercial electric flight a reality. A few months later, it announced a partnership with easyJet.
The two companies will conduct the first tests with a nine-seater electric plane next year. easyJet wants to have electric planes in its fleet for short-haul flights, and this will be one of the first steps in that direction.
Wright Electric aims to build a 150-seat battery-powered aircraft to compete with commercial aircraft on the market used for short-haul flights (under 480 km).
In 2017, Eviation Aircraft conducted the first tests with an electric plane, which has a range of 1,000 km. The airline industry is responsible for more than 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which is why the transition to electric motors is being pursued.
Source: Wall-Street
Frequently Asked Questions
When will easyJet start testing electric planes?
easyJet, in partnership with Wright Electric, plans to begin testing a nine-seater electric aircraft next year.
What is the long-term goal of Wright Electric?
The company aims to develop a 150-seat battery-powered aircraft for short-haul flights under 480 km.
Why is the aviation industry moving toward electric propulsion?
The industry accounts for over 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions, prompting a shift to cleaner electric engines.