XTI and VerdeGo combine forces on cargo VTOL

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VerdeGo Aero and XTI Aircraft have announced a partnership to develop the TriFan 200, XTI’s unmanned cargo VTOL. TriFan 200 is similar than the company’s TriFan 600 VTOL passenger aircraft already under development. VerdeGo Aero will apply low-emissions diesel (Jet-A) hybrid powertrain.

XTI’s TriFan 200 aims to be capable of transporting 500 lbs (225kgs) of cargo on missions of more than 200 nautical miles.

Surface transportation in highly congested global cities currently takes up to 90 to 120 minutes for urgent cargo to travel between air cargo hubs at major airports and the city centres. The XTI TriFan 200 will enable significant time to be removed from both ends of the journey. It could also have uses in military logistics missions.

 “The TriFan 200 aircraft will open up a significant new market for XTI to address the needs of cargo and logistics operators globally.” said Robert LaBelle, CEO, XTI Aircraft. “We are excited to be partnered with VerdeGo to leverage their experience with hybrid powertrains combined with our experience from the TriFan 600 programme to create an efficient, economical, profitable VTOL aircraft for fleet operators worldwide.”

VerdeGo Aero’s diesel (Jet-A) hybrid systems offer low operating costs and mission flexibility for electric aircraft. The high efficiency of VerdeGo’s diesel hybrid generators is instrumental in reducing emissions and fuel burn by 35% compared with conventional turbine powertrains, while also reducing overall direct operating cost by 40%. Utilising globally available Jet-A fuel means no new infrastructure is necessary and aircraft utilising VerdeGo’s hybrid systems are ready for the biofuel Jet-A substitutes now under development.

“XTI’s goals to provide its customers with reliable, high-performance cargo aircraft are ideally matched with the efficiency and low operating cost of VerdeGo’s diesel hybrid powertrains,” said Eric Bartsch, CEO and Co-founder of VerdeGo Aero.