Located between air taxis and commercial devices, hybrid regional planes have the ambition to reinvent mobility while promising less CO2 flights. They plan to transport five to several dozen passengers over hundreds of kilometers, via machines doped with electrical energy. Good news: in this area, France has several promising projects, carried by Voltaero, Aura Aero and Beyond Aero.
If this market is estimated at more than 100 billion euros by 2035, according to a study by the McKinsey firm, not sure that these planes will meet success, as the road exit from the American Eviation proves.
MD80 de Maeve Aerospace
- Objective of entry into service in 2032
It is one of the most ambitious projects in terms of passengers transported. The Dutch start-up has gone from a 444-seat aircraft concept, powered by batteries, with an electric hybrid device of 80 passengers, the MD80. Its radius of action could exceed 1,200 km. Maeve Aerospace got closer to the Canadian engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney to develop its machine, which promises a 40 % reduction in fuel consumption compared to other regional planes.
Jetcruzer 500E de ZeroAvia
- Objective of entry into service in 2028
Zeroavia is distinguished by its positioning: the American company founded in 2017 focuses on the development of a hydrogen-electric propulsive system. Jetcruzer International selected it for its Jetcruzer 500th of six places. The company of 300 employees has raised more than 230 million euros and registered more than 2,000 pre -orders.
Eco Caravan of Ampire
- Objective of entry into service in 2026
Rather than a complete device, the American ampal develops an electric hybrid propulsion system – called AMP H570 – capable of adapting to regional aircraft from 9 to 19 places. He has already equipped a Cessna Grande Caravan, called Eco Caravan, who made his first flight in 2022. Created in 2016, the start-up ensures that she raised more than 45 million euros, but refuses to reveal the value of his order book.
Es-30 of Heart Aerospace
- Objective of entry into service by 2030
Founded in 2019, the Swedish Heart Aerospace is developing the ES-30, an electric hybrid plane which can transport up to 30 passengers over 400 km and steal electric over 200 km. The start-up has garnered 250 firm orders as well as 120 purchase options.
BYA-1 de Beyond Aero
- Objective of entry into service around 2030
The Toulouse start-up is developing an atypical aircraft: a hydrogen jet fueled 100 % by fuel cells. The machine can transport six passengers over a maximum distance of 1,500 km. Since its creation in 2020, Beyond Aero has managed to raise 40 million euros. The start-up of 70 employees claims to have accumulated around 840 million euros in letters of intent for 108 planes.
He was d’Aura Aero
- Objective of entry into service in 2030
In parallel to the development of its electric two -seater, the integral e, aura aero, founded in 2018, tackles a machine of another scale: an airplane with 19 electric hybrid places, the range of which will reach 600 km. While his first flight is scheduled for 2027, this device could be certified in 2029. It has 600 pre -orders. Its production will then be carried out in Toulouse and Daytona (United States). Aura Aero secured more than 200 million euros from investors.
Cassio de Voltaero
- Objective of entry into service in 2026
It is a whole range of hybrid aircraft that French Voltaero intends to develop, located at Rochefort Airport (Charente-Maritime). After the Cassio 330 (four to five places), will follow the Cassio 480 (six places) then the Cassio 600 (10-12 places). All will have a radius of action of around 1,200 km. The order and purchase intention book of this company created in 2017 includes nearly 250 aircraft.
