Swiss electric aviation startup H55, which is led by adventurer and entrepreneur André Borschberg, has entered a commercial partnership with Norwegian electric seaplane developer Elfly Group.
The deal, which was announced on December 16, 2024, will see Elfly Group acquiring three units of the pioneering B23 Energic battery-electric aircraft (with options for two more units later on).
The ultimate goal of Elfly Group is to launch a battery-powered seaplane called “Noemi” towards the end of the decade. However, in the meantime and after this agreement, the Norwegian startup, led by former software entrepreneur Eric Lithun, will also become the exclusive distributor of the B23 Energic in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
The B23 Energic which is expected to become the first fully electric aircraft to receive EASA’s CS-23 certification for utility, aerobatic and commuter aircraft. It is the result of the collaboration between BRM Aero, a Czech manufacturer of light aircraft, and H55, which produces the electric powertrain and some of the related systems. The aircraft has an endurance of 60 minutes plus reserves, which makes it suitable for flight training schools where the typical mission rarely exceeds this timeframe before returning to base.
In the spring of 2024, H55 began taking orders for the B23 Energic, with the first deliveries expected to take place in 2026.
Before that, in early 2025, H55 and Elfly will embark on a demonstration tour in order to showcase the B23 Energic to flight schools across Scandinavia. During this tour, pilots will be able to test fly the aircraft and better understand its capabilities.
H55, which is based in Sion, Switzerland, is the brainchild of Borschberg, who, in 2016, completed the circumnavigation of the globe in a solar-powered aircraft called Solar Impulse together with renowned Swiss aviator, Bertrand Piccard.