DANX Carousel and Electron Aerospace join forces to launch electric cargo plane

DANX Carousel Group and Electron Aerospace are entering a strategic partnership to launch the Electron 5, an electric cargo aircraft.

DANX Carousel’s investment, part of the group’s plan to cut carbon emissions by 40% before 2035, sees it become Electron’s ‘founding logistics partner’ for the project. The Electron 5 has been designed to transport a cargo payload of 500kg over a range of 500km. Capable of speeds of up 300kph, Electron 5 has a short runway requirement which its designers said give it access to up to five times more EU airports than today’s aircraft.

Lars Ryssel, group chief solutions officer, DANX Carousel said: “Sustainability is, of course, the driving force behind our investment in Electron, but the inclusion of the Electron 5 aircraft in our operations will also bring about impressive operational improvements. The ability to launch and land closer to our pick-up and delivery points will cut down on journey lengths, allowing us to offer customers later cut-off times and better serve hard-to-reach areas.

“Based on our analysis, we believe that small planes are set to outperform conventional aircraft fuelled by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and hybrid aircraft in cost per kilogram, transit time, and carbon emissions,” Rysell added.

Electron 5 models are due to hit the market in 2027, with Carousel aiming to add the aircraft to its fleet within the next five years. With an airframe designed also for passenger use cases, DANX Carousel assisted with the design of the cargo model. 

Marc-Henry de Jong, chief commercial operator and co-founder, Electron Aerospace, said: “Beyond the financial investment, we’re thrilled to crown DANX Carousel our founding logistics partner. The expertise of DANX Carousel’s exceptional team is instrumental in ensuring the Electron 5 is well equipped to transport a wide range of cargo, including loose goods like e-commerce parcels and odd-size goods resting on EU palettes.”

Val Karren, sustainability director, DANX Carousel said: “The future of short-haul air cargo is battery electric – and working with Electron brings us closer to realising that vision. The plane will emit zero emissions while in the air, but the shorter ground deliveries will also cut down on truck emissions as we avoid transporting cargo on the ground to and from regional hubs. DANX Carousel is front-line on this delivery model, and I believe this investment is future-proof as smaller planes will always have a unique offering due to their flexibility over larger freighters.”