Electric aviation encompasses a wide range of innovative and diverse approaches to decarbonizing aviation and ensuring that flying remains one of the most effective, efficient and sustainable forms of transport in the decades to come. General aviation has a pivotal role here, as manufacturers continue to demonstrate their role and significant added value as drivers of scalable innovation for the wider aviation industry.
As various aviation roadmaps show, new technology will contribute to as much as one third of the decarbonisation needed to meet net zero emissions by 2050. Electric innovation is a case in point.
Beyond the decarbonisation potential, the appeal of new electric propulsion systems also lies in their streamlined design, containing fewer moving parts and requiring less maintenance.
The technology is already in development, but it will need to be accelerated. For example, Pipistrel manufactures the first (and at time of writing the only) certified fixed wing, battery-electric general aviation aircraft that is being used to decarbonize pilot training today. Heart Aerospace is focused on developing hybrid-electric solutions to decarbonize regional air travel. Propulsion manufacturers are investing heavily in developing new, innovative, and scalable electric propulsion solutions, including the Eco-Pulse technology demonstrator with DAHER and Airbus, while others are specialising in full aircraft electrification.
For example, H55 is certifying a customisable full electric propulsion system composed of battery packs fitting the needs of general aviation and commuter aircraft. In turn European electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturers like Volocopter, Lilium and Vertical Aerospace are at the forefront of developing new regional and urban mobility solutions of the future, in close collaboration with infrastructure focused companies like Skyports Infrastructure. Europe is at the forefront of this new wave of innovation.
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