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Harbour Air has partnered with battery maker H55, a spinoff of the Solar Impulse circumnavigation project, to certify an electrically powered De Havilland Beaver to certification for scheduled passenger service. The airline, which serves dozens of destinations with floatplanes on Canada’s West Coast, flew a prototype version of the Beaver in late 2019 with a magniX motor up front. The plan is to STC the motor and modular battery packs produced by H55. “I believe that H55 is the leading company in aviation battery solutions,” says Greg McDougall, CEO of Harbour Air. “Having them as partners in the ePlane development means that we will be able to lead the global push for electric aviation.”
A converted all-electric de Havilland Beaver seaplane goes through testing. (Harbour Air via H55)
One of the pioneers of battery-powered aviation is joining a Pacific Northwest team that’s aiming to get an all-electric seaplane certified for service in Canada.
H55, the Swiss battery venture co-founded by Solar Impulse pilot André Borschberg, is partnering with Vancouver, B.C.-based Harbour Air Seaplanes and Everett, Wash.-based MagniX on their project to convert De Havilland Beaver commuter airplanes to all-electric power.
Harbour Air is providing the Beaver, MagniX is providing the electric propulsion system, and now H55 will provide its advanced battery modules to power the plane.
By Jon Hemmerdinger2021-04-20T13:00:00+01:00
Swiss battery company H55 has joined Harbour Air and Magnix in an effort to develop and certificate an all-electric De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver seaplane.
The project is already well under way, with Harbour Air, a Canadian commuter airline based near Vancouver, having flown a demonstrator all-electric Beaver for the first time in late 2019. That aircraft is powered by Magnix’s Magni500 electric propulsion system.
Source: Harbour Air
Harbour Air’s all-electric Beaver demonstrator first flew in 2019
Now, Harbour and Magnix, which has offices in Seattle, have enlisted H55 – a spin-off from the Solar Impulse project – to provide a battery system and other technologies for their electrification programme.
Harbour Air, magniX y H55 se asocian para el primer avión comercial eléctrico certificado del mundo prnewswire.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from prnewswire.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Vancouver seaplane company to resume test flights with electric commercial airplane
Harbour Air’s retro-fitted seaplane with an all-electric engine is expected to fly farther and for longer in 2021, as the company pushes forward with better batteries and a commitment to greener air travel.
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