Thomas Insights introduced us to the Elysian aircraft company on January 17, 2023, with some quite dramatic news. In headline terms, the company plans to market a 90-seat battery electric aircraft by 2033. The wingspan will be 23-feet wider than a Boeing 737 Max 7. But the wingtips will hinge upwards after landing, to accommodate conventional airport design.
Elysian’s Vision For a Revolutionary Battery Electric Aircraft
Several unusual innovations will feature in the electric aircraft design, intended to be suitable for 40 to 120 passengers. The aircraft’s 360-watt-hour-per-kilogram lithium batteries will be in low-configuration wings, to reduce flexing. There will be eight propellers reducing the impact of a motor shutting down.
Elysian envisages a flying range of 500 miles, based on 360-watt-hour-per-kilogram battery packs. Although this could increase to 625 miles with future battery improvements, they say. The longer flying range should cover half of all scheduled flights, the company adds, which could in theory eliminate 20% of all aircraft emissions.
Elysian has plans to accommodate longer flights, and unscheduled diversions too. It plans to achieve this with with an internal combustion turbo-generator in the tail cone of the battery electric aircraft. This arrangement will recharge the batteries in flight, in the event they have insufficient remaining capacity to complete a flight.
Role of Extended Wingspan in Electric Flight
Battery storage bulk and weight are a challenge for battery electric aircraft designers. Elysian Aircraft spokesperson Rob Wolleswinkel told Thomas Insights the longer wingspan will provide more space for battery storage, and enable a smaller, lighter fuselage.
Elysian claims their design, “Achieves up to five times higher efficiency per passenger kilometer than hydrogen or sustainable-aviation-fuel-powered aircraft.” Apparently this configuration of battery electric aircraft, matches the energy efficiency of an average electric car with 1.2 passengers.
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