Will a Larger Airframe Help Heart’s Electric Airplane Become a Reality?

Air Canada and Saab join growing list of backers for Heart Aerospace’s environmentally friendly regional airplane.

Friday, September 16, 2022 at 01:28 PM ET

Verified

Air Canada has invested $5 million in Heart Aerospace’s ES-30 electric airliner program and signed a provisional agreement to buy 30 aircraft. [Courtesy: Heart Aerospace]

Key Takeaways:

Heart Aerospace is abandoning its 19-passenger ES-19 electric aircraft project in favor of a larger, 30-passenger electric-hybrid regional plane called the ES-30.
The ES-30 features a battery-powered electric system complemented by two turbogenerators burning sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for reserve power and extended range, making it more viable for airline operations.
The shift is seen as a more realistic path to success, with Air Canada provisionally agreeing to purchase 30 ES-30s and both Air Canada and Saab investing $5 million in its development.
Existing orders for the ES-19 have been reconfirmed for the ES-30, with the new aircraft projected to enter service in 2028.

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Now that Heart Aerospace has announced plans to develop a 30-passenger electric airplane instead of a 19-passenger platform, the Sweden-based company may be on a more likely path to success.

Heart announced Thursday it will abandon previous plans to develop its ES-19 in favor of a larger, battery-powered electric regional aircraft design called the ES-30, which incorporates a non-electric power source for reserve range— two turbogenerators that burn sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).