Wright Electric and its partners have will receive funding to develop lightweight batteries for large aircraft
It is widely agreed that lightweighting batteries is the most difficult technical challenge preventing the adoption of electric aircraft. The objective of the newly funded research programme is to construct highly energy dense batteries which hold roughly three times more energy per pound of weight than the best electric car batteries. These batteries would enable the wide scale adoption of electric aircraft in the 100+ passenger segment.
“When Wright Electric was founded in 2016, the idea of a battery that would allow aircraft to fly regional routes with reserves seemed like a fantasy to most people,” says Jeff Engler, CEO at Wright Electric. “Now, we are one of several companies with a viable path toward a technology that will enable regional aircraft flights entirely on battery power.”
Wright is focusing on the 100+ passenger aircraft market because this segment accounts for greater than 90% of the carbon emissions of the aerospace industry. Wright builds ultra-power-dense electric aircraft engines and ultra-lightweight batteries for these aircraft.
The batteries Wright is developing use a novel molten Lithium-Sulphur chemistry with the potential for roughly 3x the gravimetric energy capacity of commercial li-ion. In this programme, Wright will emphasise reducing risks tied to airworthiness and high volume production.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to mature this technology and accelerate the decarbonisation of air transportation,” says Engler. “This funding will greatly accelerate our work to advance clean air travel and we couldn’t be more excited to get started.”
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