THE FUTURE’S ELECTRIC, AND LOWER EMISSION

Electric flight will create a greener, quieter and more economical way to move people and things

Electric power and propulsion have the potential to revolutionise aviation, and electric flight is seen as an essential milestone on the road – or flightpath – to a low-carbon, low emission future.

From passenger and freight carriage to parcel delivery, companies across the Business & Innovation Magazine region have been playing their part in creating greener, quieter, and more economical forms of air travel.

Companies from Bristol, Gloucestershire and Warwickshire join forces to smash all-electric flight world records

Bristol-based aerospace giant Rolls-Royce has “smashed” the fastest all-electric flight world record in the skies above Wiltshire.

Its battery-powered Spirit of Innovation plane reached 345.4mph over three kilometres after taking off from the Ministry of Defence’s Boscombe Down – smashing the previous record by 132mph.

The Rolls Royce team was supported by Cheltenham aviation energy storage specialist Electroflight, and a team at WMG (Warwick Manufacturing Group), University of Warwick.

Rolls Royce said the plane also broke the record for 15 kilometres, achieving 330 mph, and for the fastest ascent to 3,000 metres in 202 seconds – breaking the previous record by exactly a minute.

During its record-breaking runs, the aircraft clocked up a maximum speed of 387.4 mph – which makes the Spirit of Innovation the world’s fastest all-electric vehicle.

Using facilities at WMG’s Energy Innovation Centre, researchers supported the team through the development process, conducting electrical, thermal, safety, and vibration and shock testing.

This was delivered all the way from Electroflight’s initial single lithium-ion cell selection through to the battery module and finally the battery pack for a full propulsion battery system.

Rolls-Royce CEO Warren East said: “Staking the claim for the all-electric worldspeed record is a fantastic achievement.

“The advanced battery and propulsion technology developed for this programme has exciting applications for the advanced air mobility market.”

WMG chief engineer, Mark Amor-Segan, said: “It’s incredibly exciting to see RollsRoyce’s ‘Spirit of Innovation’ awarded two new world records and officially be titled the world’s fastest all-electric aircraft.

"It has been a tremendous journey to share with Electroflight, to help create the most power-dense propulsion battery ever for aerospace."

Douglas Campbell, technical director of Electroflight said: “This has been a landmark project for our company and our industry – one which opens up a world of possibilities in the electrification of aviation. We’re thrilled to have played such an important part in this success.”

ZeroAvia raises further $35 million for zero-emission flight technology, taking total raised to $115 million

ZeroAvia, the Gloucestershire company developing hydrogenelectric aircraft has secured a further $35 million to help develop its zero-emission powertrain system for regional aviation.

New investors Alaska Airlines and United Airlines have joined Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund, AP Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Horizons Ventures, Summa Equity and Shell Ventures in the round.

The company’s agreement with United anticipates an order for 50 of ZeroAvia’s ZA2000-RJ engines, with an option for 50 more.

ZeroAvia, which is based at Kemble Airport and Hollister, California, says it is on track to achieve commercialisation for its hydrogen propulsion technology in 2024.

Initially, the company is targeting a 500-mile range 10 to 20 seat aircraft for commercial passenger transport, package delivery and agriculture.

The latest funding round targets the next segment of 40 to 80-seat aircraft, then turboprops by 2026 and regional jets by 2028.

Val Miftakhov, CEO and founder of ZeroAvia, said: "As we prepare for ground and flight testing of our first commercial product in the coming weeks, this backing by our investors will enable us to accelerate delivery of our engine for larger aircraft.”

Vertical Aerospace reaches agreement to roll out infrastructure for electric air taxis

Bristol zero emissions aerospace and technology company Vertical Aerospace is to co-operate with global infrastructure company Ferrovial, on creating a network of 25 vertiports across the UK.

Vertiports are sites that enable the take-o , landing and recharging of electric vertical take-o and landing (“eVTOL”) aircraft, and will o er e cient travel across the UK.

The move will allow Vertical’s piloted four passenger aircraft, the VA-X4, to operate from these sites for the proposed launch of its UK services with Virgin Atlantic.

Vertical says that passengers arriving at Heathrow for example could take the VA-X4 to Cambridge from the airport in just 28 minutes.

Ferrovial, which operates 33 airports around the world, including in the UK being a shareholder of Heathrow, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airports, will bring its operational capabilities, design expertise and investment strength to building a UK network of vertiports.

Vertical, founded by Ovo Energy founder Stephen FitzPatrick, designs and manufactures and manages the aftersales of its VA-X4.

Oxford-based spin-out plans to electrify aerospace

A new company spun out of Oxford-based Yasa last year is manufacturing electric motors and power electronics for aerospace.

Evolito is now based on the same industrial park as Yasa at Kidlington.

Yasa was acquired by Mercedes-Benz last year to exclusively commercialise Yasa’s next-generation electric motor technology and IP for the aerospace market.

Evolito says its electric motors "look set to take off in aerospace where Yasa left off in automotive".

The business’s 'axial-flux' motor technology – used in Rolls Royce's Spirit of Innovation (see main story) – has even greater advantages in the aerospace market, and Evolito says it is uniquely positioned to drive forward the commercialisation and adoption of electric flight.

Evolito’s ultra-high-performance, low-weight axial-flux motors and power electronics are smaller, lighter and more robust than competing technology, opening up a range of new opportunities for Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL), fixed wing and distributed electric propulsion applications such as Urban Air Mobility.

GKN Aerospace to lead development of electric aircraft fan thruster

Solihull-based GKN Aerospace is teaming up with Sweden’s Royal Institute of Technology to develop an electric fan thruster for a programme called EleFanT.

The partners say the propulsion system could provide sufficient power for a small regional airliner.

The 18-month project will focus on the aerodynamic design, performance, noise, and manufacturing technology required for a new ducted fan.

The project will also determine whether the electric power should be based on batteries, hydrogen fuel cells, or some sort of hybrid propulsion powertrain.

Blythe Valley Park-based GKN says a ducted fan will be quieter and safer than a conventional propeller powerplant for a regional airliner.

"We are very positive about this initiative, which helps us to become part of the solution to aviation's climate challenge," said Henrik Runnemalm, vice-president of the GKN Aerospace Global Technology Centre in Trollhättan, Sweden.