Air travel has emerged as a significant contributor to global carbon dioxide emissions, with the industry doubling its output since the mid-1980s. The U.S. government’s ambitious goal to reduce greenhouse gas pollution by 50% by 2030 has sparked a surge in innovation in sustainable aviation fuels and electric aviation technologies.
The electrification of aviation has made significant strides in recent years, with the industry adopting a global climate action framework in 2008. Since then, the industry has continued to address environmental concerns by reducing emissions and noise levels, making a greener, cleaner aviation sector inevitable.
The pandemic’s impact on air travel has presented an opportunity for air mobility investments groups to pour funds into electric aviation. UP.Partners, a venture capital firm, launched a $230 million fund to back electric aviation companies, with the goal of seeing all-electric passenger aircraft in the skies by 2026.
The industry’s shift towards electric aviation is driven by the need to reduce carbon emissions and explore cost-effective and sustainable aircraft options. The global market for electric aircraft is projected to reach $27.7 billion by 2030, driven by urban mobility aircraft deployment and the increasing use of electric aircraft for cargo and other activities.
Six electric aviation companies stand out for their innovative approaches to sustainable aviation. Airflow is developing an aircraft for middle-mile logistics and passengers, with a focus on fully autonomous cargo-carrying vehicles. Beta Technologies is building electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft for the cargo and logistics industry, with a mission to expand electric aviation worldwide.
Heart Aerospace is developing a 19-passenger electric aircraft with a 250-mile range, and Universal Hydrogen is creating a modular capsule technology solution for hydrogen transportation to power electric aircraft. Wright Electric is building technology for large commercial airplanes and developing its flagship electric aircraft, the Wright Spirit, which will be a zero-emission 100-passenger airplane for one-hour flights.
ZeroAvia manufactures hydrogen-electric aircraft to improve emission performance, with a focus on commercial entry products and significant strides in developing its powertrain design. These companies are leading the charge towards a sustainable aviation future, driven by a shared commitment to reducing carbon emissions and exploring innovative technologies to power the skies.
Read more: https://www.greenbiz.com/article/6-electric-aviation-companies-keep-your-radar
