Electric Aviation Group (EAG), UK-based engineering and development company, presented what appears to be the world’s first hybrid electric regional airliner designed to become an entry point for sustainable mass transportation market.
The new Hybrid Electric Regional Aircraft (HERA) is set to have short take-off-and-landing performance, flexible cabin design for quick transformation between passenger and cargo configurations, ability to be transformed into all-electric aircraft and accommodate alternative energy sources if they become available before 2030, as well as many other futuristic features.
The operational range of the aircraft is supposed to reach 800 nautical miles (over 1480 km), less than half of what similarly-seated Mitsubishi Space Jet M100 or Embraer 175-E2 can offer. Nevertheless, HERA is aimed at not only offering a greener alternative, boasted by UKs “Jet Zero council”, but providing practical aircraft, able to generate profit for its operators.
“Significant investments have been raised to develop sub-19 seat hybrid and all-electric aircraft which we believe is the wrong strategy. These small planes cannot meet the demands of mass air transportation or the requirements of decarbonisation,” EAG’s CEO Kamran Iqbal explains.
Company’s press release does not mention operational speed or aircraft dimensions, yet notes that the first deliveries are expected to come by 2028. According to the document, a total of 25 patents connected to the project have already been filled.
EAG expects to create more than 25,000 new jobs and attract $5 billion investments as HERA enters its production stage.