Rolls- Royce’s aerospace division is reportedly working on a fully electric aircraft that is likely to launch within three to five years.
Confirming the news, Rolls-Royce Director Rob Watson claimed that the first commercial deployment of P-Volt, which will have a power output of 600-kilowatt-hours, will be equipped in an aircraft that would be capable of flying 6 to 8 people for up to 80 nautical miles.
The company will also keep improving the range using some advanced battery technology, with additional plans to power plans to at least 400 km by 2030. Watson believes that an electric aircraft of around 8-18 seats could gain traction in the upcoming years.
Rolls-Royce’s electric propulsion system will be used for both landings as well as electric vertical takeoff.
One of the former's customers, Vertical Aerospace Group Ltd, has already received orders from Avolon Holdings Ltd., Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd., and American Airlines Group Inc. The company has claimed that its electric four-passenger aircraft called the VA-X4 can fly at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour over a range of around 100 miles.
It is worth noting that various organizations, ranging from start-ups to established aerospace behemoths, have begun building aircraft powered by alternative energy sources, with some being hybrid electric, SAF, hydrogen, or fully electric.
When discussing the use of alternative energy sources, Watson stated that if a single-aisle aircraft intends to fly over long distances, it will never be able to achieve it given the battery size. Hence, it is critical to use SAF technology first and then switch to hydrogen-based propulsion systems.
Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce is currently in advanced negotiations with battery cell suppliers as it nears certification. The company would not manufacture battery cells, but it will assemble and design the packs instead.
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