Wright Electric, a partner of European airline easyJet, recently unveiled design concepts for the Wright 1, a 186-seat electric aircraft. Wright is building a 1.5 MW electric motor and 3 kV inverter. The company is in discussions with BAE Systems to develop flight controls and energy management systems. Wright plans to conduct ground tests in 2021, flight tests in 2023, and begin service in 2030.

Johan Lundgren, CEO of easyJet, said, “This is another crucial step for our partner Wright Electric to move towards the introduction of commercial electric aircraft and it is exciting to see their ambitious timeline for testing and entry into service. Battery technology is advancing at pace with numerous US government agencies now funding research into electric aviation—all of these developments help us to more clearly see a future of more sustainable operations.”

Jeffrey Engler, CEO of Wright Electric, said, “Wright Electric is dedicated to bringing low-emissions 186 seat electric planes systems to market. Wright Electric’s mission is to make commercial aviation greener, and our megawatt engine program is the next step in making our mission a reality.”

Source: easyJet