Zunum Aero is a Kirkland, Washington-based startup focused on developing a hybrid electric plane for regional air travel. They hope to have these planes in service by 2022, with flight distances approaching 1,000 miles. The company already boasts investment support from aerospace heavy hitters Boeing and JetBlue, and engineering prowess from Rolls-Royce.
According to the company, the 10 to 50-passenger jets could offer a lower cost option for a travel segment with few options, and help improve on-time arrivals by eliminating lay-overs in larger connecting hubs.
The planes would have a maximum cruising speed of 340 mph while emitting 80 percent fewer emissions and running 75 percent quieter.
The implementation of electric propulsion engines in favor of larger, much more expensive turbine engines could be a truly disruptive force for commercial airlines. Not only could these types of planes funnel more business to smaller airports with lower operating costs, but they will create a new market where giants like Boeing and Airbus don’t currently have product offerings. It’s rumored that is what initially drew Boeing to the partnership.
A shift in regional, electric jets could also take a bite out of aerospace engine manufacturers like GE and Pratt & Whitney.
The most significant challenges facing this technology are addressing battery weight, managing heat buildup, and designing power subsystems that won’t drain the batteries too quickly.
The next steps for Zunum, which was founded in 2013, is working with the Federal Aviation Administration to develop standards for electric aircraft. The company hopes to begin test flights of these hybrid aircraft in 2019.