By Chris Stonor
Jaunt Air Mobility announced last week a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Flordia-based VerdeGo Aero, to research the development of a hybrid-electric aircraft, reports aero-news.net. Through the two combined technologies, the companies aim to give potential customers a variety of aeronautical products.
Jaunt and VerdeGo plan to develop a hybrid-electric version of the present Jaunt aircraft using VerdeGo’s hybrid-electric diesel (Jet-A) generator system combined with the same battery systems presently employed for the Jaunt Journey. The additional energy and thrust from the hybrid system “will enable significant enhancements offering a capability for passenger, cargo, and military variants.”
Jaunt’s technology already has a proven aerodynamic design of a fixed-wing aircraft with efficient vertical take-off and landing capabilities, while VerdeGo’s hybrid power system allows for longer missions, faster turnaround operations and current infrastructure utilization.
VerdeGo’s hybrid power systems run on “globally-available Jet-A fuel, which will reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 40 percent when compared to competing turbine products, while providing 4X+ more energy than battery-electric powertrains.”
Martin Peryea, CEO of Jaunt Air Mobility, said, “While confident in the battery-electric Jaunt Journey, for the urban air mobility market, our customers also have different operational mission requirements.” Adding, “VerdeGo’s system offers a unique bridge to meeting those demands.”
According to NASA, Hybrid-electric systems have shown the potential for significant improvements when applied to fixed-wing aircraft. “Such improvements include energy consumption, noise, weight, propulsive efficiency, and aero-propulsive interactions, among others.”
And the U.S. Air Force’s chief acquisition officer, Will Roper has stated that “with the military’s goals of flying two to four military personnel 100 miles at speeds above 115 mph, it is likely that these aircraft will be hybrid-electric.”
Eric Bartsch, VerdeGo Aero’s CEO, commented, “The additional range enabled with VerdeGo’s hybrid system applied in the Jaunt aircraft will enable either longer missions or multiple short back-to-back missions without the requirement for energy infrastructure at every landing site.”
He continued, “Rapid turnaround, high utilization, and enhanced mission capability make the hybrid aircraft extremely competitive.”
Visual presentation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-lwYx8vk0Q
For more information
(News Source: http://www.aero-news.net)
