The Cessna Caravan 208 is a nine-passenger commuter airliner that is widely used since 1982. It is unlike any other experimental aircraft. It will transfer MagniX’s motor above Moses Lake in Washington. MagniX believes that the change will start from here and it is not an overnight task but will take time to happen.
The CEO of MagniX, Roei Ganzarski said: “It’s a niche market. But we can start now, get working on it and push the envelope to progress the entire industry. Let’s get to market quickly for the main purpose of being able to start this revolution.”
MagniX: Building an Electric Future
The Magni500 is believed to deliver 750 horsepower and it is sufficient impulse for ‘middle mile aircraft’. It’s capable to carry around 5 to 19 passengers. De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver which us the Magni500 first flew in the last December over Vancouver, British Columbia. And it also became the first aircraft to use the Magni500 engine. Roei Ganzarki said, “Up until that point we either saw very small electric aircraft or you heard a lot about why it’s impossible. So, it was very exciting to see an actual airline fly an actual electric aircraft.”
The project is quite ambitious. Many promising players will enter the market including Uber, that is planning for the electric air taxis. There are numerous competitive players like Airbus, Embraer, and Rolls Royce who are in the process of developing the airframes. It’s not only limited to the established players but the startups as well as Zunum Aero, Ampaire, and Pipstrel Aircraft.
According to Ganzarski, there are plenty of advantages to electric flight. The most important and needed advantage is zero emissions. He assumes that in comparison to the fuel-based planes, the electric flights will require less maintenance. It will also be cheaper in terms of operating rate per hour. This will automatically result in cheaper ticket prices.
Talking about the emissions Ganzarski said: “Emissions from cars or planes are not only bad for your health but bad for the environment. The fact that electric aircraft produce zero emissions is a huge positive.”
The Lithium-Ion Batteries for Tomorrow
Ganzarski admits that like Electric cars, the Electric flights have their own set of challenges along with the advantages. He said: “The challenge is that batteries are not as power potent as fuel. We chose lithium-ion, because, at this stage, it’s the most proven technology or proven chemistry to provide the energy and safety that we need to fly the aircraft.”
The lithium-ion batteries are not the only challenge to overcome. Another challenge to address is the weight. The Aircraft along with the passengers and cargo are also required to carry what powers it. “For aerospace, weight is critical because otherwise the airplane simply doesn’t take off and perform. When you’re retrofitting an aircraft, you’re using the same weight the current aircraft has … that’s your limit to how much battery you can put in”, said Ganzarski.
