Rolls-Royce stirs up the electric passenger plane market

Technology for electric aircraft has made many advances, creating the prospect of opening a new era for passenger transport in the coming 2023 to 2026 period.

Far beyond the speed record of current electric motors

The small plane using all electric propulsion from Rolls-Royce has broken two world speed records, showing the great potential of this vehicle in the field of short-distance transport.

The luxury car brand is working with a number of airline companies to develop aircraft and vehicles using its electric propulsion system.

Last year, the Spirit of Innovation, the company’s single-seat electric turboprop aircraft, averaged 555.9 km/h over a distance of more than 3 km, far surpassing the zero-emission vehicle speed record at the time. that point (213.04 km/h).

For a distance of more than 15km, this aircraft reached a record average speed of 532.1 km / h, with a top speed of 623 km / h.

Both of the above records were recorded in January, by the International Aviation Federation, also known as the World Air Sports Federation, which certifies records for the aviation and tourism sectors. space travel.

The company has built a strong foundation towards the commercialization of services, said Rob Watson, Head of Rolls-Royce’s electric aircraft business.

The first commercialized electric aircraft will be small designed for high-speed passenger transport, with one or more battery-powered motors.

The challenges for commercializing electric aircraft include reducing the weight of key components such as batteries and motors while ensuring increased power. Electric planes are expected to offer a cost advantage over traditional airlines when traveling short distances with limited numbers of passengers.

Rolls-Royce products are equipped with a 400 kW powertrain, equivalent to that in high-performance electric cars. The aircraft is also equipped with a battery pack capable of operating about 320 km / 1 charge, equal to the distance from London to Paris. According to this luxury car company, this is one of the highest capacity compressed battery packs in the world.

Rolls-Royce also plans to coordinate with airframe manufacturers Tecnam (Italy) and Wideroe Airlines (Northern Europe) to commercialize the domestic passenger transport market in the region. this in 2026.

According to Watson, the company wants to manufacture electric propulsion systems for vertical lift units (eVTOLs) used in urban transport by 2025.

Vertical Aerospace, a British eVTOL start-up decided to use Rolls-Royce technology. Andrew Macmillan, Vertical Aerospace’s Infrastructure Manager, emphasizes that the application of proven and tested technologies helps the company to bring eVTOL aircraft to commercialization soon.

Japan and the Nordic region are the most potential markets

Japan is one of the main target markets for the electric transport aircraft project. Companies here are increasing their presence in the budding market.

In 2021, the Japanese airline reached an agreement to purchase or lease up to 100 eVOTL air taxis manufactured by Vertical Aerospace, through Avolon.

In addition, the giant trading group in Japan, Marubeni and Vertical Aerospace have agreed to cooperate in marketing Vertical’s flagship vehicles in the country of the rising sun. In which, this group has pre-ordered 200 aircraft.

Watson believes that Japan has a good business environment and is a good market for electric air travel systems. Similar to Scandinavia, where the company plans to launch its first commercial jet, Japan is made up of many islands far apart, so the need for urban commuting presents a big opportunity.

Market research by Rolls-Royce shows that by 2050 there will be more than 160,000 commercial electric aircraft flying over cities.

The Asia-Pacific region will account for more than half of the aircraft of this new sector. In Japan, the number of aircraft entering service increases from 630 in 2030, to 4,500 in 2040 and 16,400 in 2050, accounting for about 10% of the global total.

Rolls-Royce is the company that broke the speed record for conventional aircraft engines in the early 1930s, the dawn of the aircraft industry. With the global zero-carbon trend, the company is racing to restructure its product line and finance with its electric aircraft division.

Vinh Ngo (According to Nikkei Asia)