Elysian start-up sets ambitious electric flight targets thanks to new research

Electric planes could carry more passengers and travel further than previously forecast thanks to tweaked design principles, a new start-up has claimed.

Dutch electric aviation firm Elysian launched this week, showcasing plans for its E9X aircraft. Set to fly from 2033, the plane is engineered to carry 90 passengers up to 800km.

The forecast capabilities, which go beyond previously announced projects, are based on two scientific studies carried out in collaboration with Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.

The first study introduces new ‘parametric’ designs for an electric aircraft suitable for 40-120 passengers, and presents design principles for a higher range than previously thought possible, while the second study presents a conceptual design of a battery-electric 90-seater aircraft, including batteries integrated into the wings, a low-wing configuration, and folding wingtips.

Electric aviation has so far been held back by the energy density of batteries, which is far lower than conventional jet fuel and therefore limits potential capacity and range. Steve Wright, associate professor of aerospace engineering at the University of the West of England, previously told Professional Engineering that regional electric jets would not be possible until 2035 without an “absolutely astonishing” physics breakthrough.

The E9X features a battery pack with an energy density of 360Wh/kg, compared to roughly 12,000Wh/kg from jet fuel. Elysian hopes this could be feasible for 800km flights thanks to the new research, which claims that higher ratios between energy mass and maximum take-off mass, and lift-to-drag, are possible.

The aircraft could fly up to 1,000km with future battery improvements, the company claimed. That range covers half of all commercial flights, which Elysian said meant electric aviation could reduce 20% of all aviation carbon dioxide emissions.

The design could achieve up to five-times higher efficiency per passenger kilometre than aircraft fuelled with hydrogen or sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), the company said, matching the energy efficiency of an average electric car with 1.2 passengers. 

Joris Melkert, senior lecturer in aerospace engineering at Delft University of Technology, said: “We expect Elysian to make a significant contribution to discovering the boundaries of battery electric flying by taking a refreshingly new look at the combination of technology and design. We wholeheartedly support their systematic and scientific approach and look forward to their solutions to the technological challenges ahead.”