VoltAero joins Europe’s regional mobility Power Up initiative

VoltAero has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Power Up initiative, a Netherlands-based group focused on expanding electric regional air mobility.

The French hybrid-electric aircraft developer will take part in test flights focused on the Netherlands to thrash out operational procedures and passenger experience with in inter-regional electric air travel. 

Jean Botti (pictured above), VoltAero’s CEO and chief technology officer, who attended the Power Up MoU signing event in Eindhoven, said: “The Power Up initiative is an excellent opportunity to show how Cassio and other e-airplanes offer the solution to introducing a new era of efficient air mobility with low-carbon emissions and reduced noise. As we progress toward Cassio’s production and service introduction, we are proud to partner with the Power Up initiative in pioneering sustainable aviation.” 

Other aviation and mobility organisations signing the Power Up MoU include multiple airports in the Netherlands (Eindhoven Airport, Groningen Airport Eelde, Lelystad Airport, Maastricht Aachen Airport, and Rotterdam The Hague Airport), along with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, the Dutch Railways and the Netherlands Aerospace Center.

By integrating VoltAero’s patented electric-hybrid propulsion system into the company’s purpose-designed airframe, VoltAero’s Cassio aircraft family will deliver an order of magnitude higher performance as compared to the current competition, developers claim.

Cassio aircraft use an electric motor in the aft fuselage-mounted hybrid propulsion unit for all-electric power during taxi, takeoff, primary flight (if the distance traveled is less than 150km), and landing. The hybrid feature – with an internal combustion engine – comes into play as a range extender, recharging the batteries while in flight. Also, the hybrid element serves as a backup in the event of a problem.