The short-haul and domestic flight market could be revolutionized thanks to zero-emissions electric flights taking off in 2026.
California-based Wright Electric has announced plans to fly 100-passenger electric planes on one-hour flight routes within the next five years.
The electric planes — named the Wright Spirit — will have an initial range of 460 miles (740km). Potential routes include the world’s busiest, Seoul to Jeju, New York to Washington, and London to Paris.
Wright Electric will gradually convert existing BAe 146 planes to electric motors for the first stage in its plan. The company is also working on a purpose-built electric fleet of aircraft that it hopes will carry 186 passengers up to 800 miles (1288 km) by 2030.
How Will Electric Passenger Planes Work?
Wright Electric is developing a two-megawatt (MW) jet engine. BAe 146 planes have four jet engines, which helps with the electric motor design and development.
In 2023, engineers will replace one standard jet engine in a Bae146 plane with a two-megawatt electric motor. In 2024, the aircraft will swap another standard engine with an electric one to give the plane two standard engines and two electric motors. In 2025, all four engines will switch to electric motors, with final testing meaning passenger service should begin in 2026.
The aircraft will be trialed at city airports. The electric motors may help reduce noise pollution as well as emissions.
Engineers are looking at hydrogen and aluminum fuel cells to power the electric motors. These two fuel cells have greater energy density than lithium-ion batteries. At the current development stage, hydrogen fuel cells offer a more extended flight range. They are lighter — weight is crucial to efficient flights — but are more expensive and difficult to operate in planes.
Aluminum fuel cells are more manageable for airports and cheaper but occupy more space and don’t provide as much distance as hydrogen. Electric Wright’s white paper covers all the technical details.
Why Do We Need Electric Planes to Combat Climate Change?
World leaders hope to restrict global warming to 1.5 Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) by signing up for net-zero emissions by 2050. The aviation industry is also keenly aware of its pollution contribution and how it acts as a lightning rod for transport-related emissions criticism.
Before the COVID-10 pandemic, airlines emissions grew annually and made up around 3% of the world’s total emissions. Boeing and Airbus-sized planes are each responsible for up to one million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions over their 20-year lifetimes.
The United States has recently reopened its borders to international passengers, and many other countries are relaxing travel rules. The global economic recovery means airlines hope for a quick return to pre-pandemic levels of 4.5 billion passengers in 2019, rather than the 1.8 billion passengers carried last year.
Is Sustainable Aviation Fuel Another Option?
Some airlines are already making moves to appear greener. More than 60 airlines will use 10% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in their aircraft before 2030.
SAF produces some 80% fewer lifetime carbon emissions than modern jet fuels. The fuel is made from feedstocks, which are waste products such as animal and plant waste, cooking oil, and landfill.
After processing, SAF creates a biofuel similar to jet fuel currently used by the industry. Airport staff can handle both fuels the same way, SAF and jet fuel can be blended, and all aircraft that use standard jet fuel can use SAF, too.
Electric Planes: Flight of Fancy or Reality?
People still love to travel, and that includes flying. Passenger numbers are expected to double by 2035 to 7.2 billion travelers annually, as flights become more accessible to people across the globe. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the United States, China, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam will lead the demand surge. However, something has to give if the aviation industry is to reach zero emissions.
Things are moving. DHL hopes electric planes will start to move its cargo in 2024. Jeff Engler, CEO of Wright Electric, said: “Zero-emissions commercial aircraft are the future.”
Wright Electric’s electric motor development and trial could be the paradigm shift that brings the world a step closer to electric planes and emissions-free flying.
Opinion writer: Tom Shearman
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