Electric flying seems to be definitely taking off. Norway recently successfully made the first electric flight. The Netherlands is also making strides: the Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) opened a research centre for electric flying last Monday.
The plane tested in Norway, called Avinor, flies on batteries. It is quiet and petrol-free. The plane was built and modernised in Slovenia and can currently stay in the air for an hour. The plane is part of Norway's plans to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions: by at least 40 per cent by 2030.
Aviation is currently one of the fastest growing sources worldwide of greenhouse gases. It accounts for more than 2% of CO2 emissions. The successful test flight in Norway can therefore be seen as an important breakthrough. 'This is actually one of the first examples showing that we are making strides,' Norway's transport minister, Ketil Solvik-Olsen told Seeker. 'But the most important condition of all is that it is safe. People won't fly if they don't trust it. But I think electric flying will be a reality by 2040. We have some time then to continue developing and testing as much as possible.' Norway is a forerunner when it comes to electric flying. By 2025, the country aims to make its first commercial electric flights. Incidentally, Norway also has the most electric cars in the world and, moreover, many ships and ferries are already electric.
Netherlands takes part
Dutch aviation is also gearing up for electric flying. While no test flights have been made yet, last Monday, the Netherlands Air and Space Centre-NLR opened its new 18,000-square-metre research facilities and offices in Marknesse. During the opening, NLR together with PwC unveiled the electric Pipistrel Alpha Electro that will be used as a research aircraft in NLR's new Living Lab Electric Flight. With this, NLR is ready to take the next step in making aviation more sustainable: electric flight. The new building, containing state-of-the-art research facilities, was opened by Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, Minister of Infrastructure and Public Works.
Cora van Nieuwenhuizen said in her speech, "The Netherlands is very successful in aviation technology. It has to be, because the demand for transport by air continues to grow. But we cannot just build more aircraft. They must also be lighter, with new technology and more fuel-efficient engines. New challenges for which we seek new answers. And where new ideas should lead to new possibilities, that's where nurseries are needed. This new complex of NLR, is such a nursery".
Living Lab Electric Flight
Accounting and consultancy firm PwC has made a donation to NLR to purchase an electric aircraft, the Pipistrel Alpha Electro, to further develop sustainable flying. This donation is in line with PwC's ambition to be circular and CO2 neutral by 2030. PwC has been monetising its CO2 emissions since last year and uses this budget to first reduce and then offset emissions. For instance, PwC encourages online meetings, (international) train travel and electric driving. PwC also invests in sustainable mobility innovations, both with knowledge and money. "In the field of flying, there is still much to be gained. With this donation, PwC wants to contribute to accelerating the transition to sustainable flying. As a user, an international organisation with clients worldwide, we want to take our responsibility by focusing on CO2 reduction, compensation and innovation," said CFO and COO of PwC, Michael de Ridder.
With the Pipistrel Alpha Electro, NLR is taking an important step to further develop knowledge and experience on electric flight. In the Living Lab Electric Flight, NLR will, among other things, research the possibility of increasing the range of the Pipistrel Alpha Electro through new battery technology or a fuel cell and aerodynamic improvements.
Symposium 'Electric flying'
The event featured a mini-symposium entitled: "Electric flying in 2050: dreams or opportunities for the Netherlands?" The symposium where a wide representation of the Dutch aviation sector was present, gave a picture of the current technological developments in electric flying and outlined the perspective on the opportunities and challenges in this field for the Netherlands aviation sector.
Wright Electric
Very special was the arrival and presentation of Jeff Engler, CEO of Los Angeles-based start-up Wright Electric. Wright Electric has entered into a partnership with easyJet and has expressed its ambition to develop a fully electric plane that can operate flights with 150 passengers over distances of around 540 km, such as between Amsterdam and London or Paris, already within 10 to 20 years.
To mark the opening and the theme of sustainable aviation, there were also partners showing their models, such as Delft Hyperloop, Solar Car Twente and KPN's Ehang.
Source: Seeker/NLR
