BAE Systems, a leading aerospace and defence company and Heart Aerospace, a Swedish electric airplane maker, have announced a collaboration to define the battery system for Heart’s ES-30 regional electric airplane.
The battery will be the first of its kind to be integrated into an electric conventional take-off and landing (eCTOL) regional aircraft, allowing it to efficiently operate with zero-emissions and low noise.
The programme will leverage more than 25 years of BAE Systems’ expertise in electrifying large, heavy-duty industrial vehicles. Today, the company has over 15,000 power and propulsion systems operating in service across the globe. Work on the programme will be conducted at the company’s state-of-the-art facility in Endicott, New York.
“BAE Systems’ extensive experience in developing batteries for heavy-duty ground applications, and their experience in developing safety critical control systems for aerospace, make them an ideal partner in this important next step for the ES-30 and for the aviation industry,” said Sofia Graflund, Chief Operating Officer at Heart Aerospace. “We look forward to decarbonising air travel together.”
The ES-30 airplane will be powered by four electric motors and has an all-electric range of 200 kilometres, an extended reserve hybrid range of 400 kilometres with 30 passengers and ability to fly up to 800 kilometres with 25 passengers.
The ES-30 will also have a cost-effective and scalable upgrade path as future battery technology matures. The battery upgrade roadmap allows for increased usable energy at the same weight, resulting in longer flight durations and expanded route options.
Heart Aerospace has a total of 230 orders and 100 options for the ES-30, along with letters of intent for an additional 108 airplanes.
