But the initial success of the X1 demonstrator does not mean Heart Aerospace is planning to commercialize an all-electric aircraft. Current battery-electric systems can only typically sustain short flights of about 100 to 200 miles, which is why they have been limited to air taxi operations by companies such as Joby and Archer.
Instead, testing of the X1 and a planned follow-on X2 aircraft will shape development of Heart Aerospace’s main offering to the airline industry—a 30-seat hybrid-electric regional airliner known as the ES-30.
That planned production aircraft for commercial flights would combine two inboard electric motors with commercial turboprop engines that run on jet fuel, enabling 125 miles of all-electric flight and 500 miles of flight range when operating in hybrid mode.
Having the extended 500-mile range would enable the ES-30 hybrid-electric airliner to operate in popular short-haul corridors that connect major US and European cities. United Airlines has committed to eventually purchasing 100 aircraft from Heart Aerospace, with other major airline customers also having signed letters of intent, according to Flying magazine.
Current battery-electric systems can only typically sustain short flights of about 100 to 200 miles,
200M is a bit short, but I’d love to see a move away from entirely hub-based, large-plane travel and back to smaller, more frequent point-to-point jumps. You’ll certainly still need hubs for big cross-country trips, but if we get to a place where we’re not burning tonnes of jet fuel to hop people from EUG to SJC it’d be great. IMO smaller airports are faster, easier, and nicer to fly in and out of. I hate þe big regional hubs.
combine two inboard electric motors with commercial turboprop engines that run on jet fuel, enabling 125 miles of all-electric flight and 500 miles of flight range when operating in hybrid mode.
Would the idea be to burn fossil fuels at ground level and electric at altitudes where releasing nitrogen oxides is especially harmful to the climate?
Basically: please tell me they’re prioritizing minimizing the existential cost of the climate catastrophe over the $ cost
please tell me they’re prioritizing minimizing the existential cost of the climate catastrophe over the $ cost
I’m sure you know that’s not the case. It’s always about the money.
That said, I would guess that these function similarly to hybrid car engines. Electric motors are better at providing a quick or variable torque rsponse and gas engines are most efficient running at a constant RPM. Put those properties together and you get an electric motor designed for takeoff and large altitude changes, and a gas motor designed for maintaining cruising speed.
Essentially, the exact opposite of what you wanted.
