Start-up Maeve Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney Canada are to collaborate on the design of hybrid-electric propulsion technologies for the Dutch firm’s developmental M80 aircraft.
“We are looking to create a benchmark in energy reduction,” says Martin Nusseler, Maeve’s chief technology officer “The performance and efficiency of the Maeve M80 will be a game-changer for the regional aviation market, combining advanced aerodynamics and a disruptive propulsion technology.”
“We have been exploring different technologies on multiple projects,” says Scott McElvaine, vice-president business development and commercial for P&WC.
“We feel there’s a sweet spot around the regional turboprop,” he adds. “Working with Martin and [the] team in this kind of architecture gives us the opportunity to go explore and find the maximum efficiencies through hybrid in combination with the aircraft.”
Maeve’s M80 is planned to have range of up to 1,200nm (2,220km), 40% lower fuel consumption and emissions than a conventional regional jet, with jet-like performance and the cost-efficiency of a turboprop, the company says.
“The future needs a step-change in energy reduction but also the performance is important or else you can’t capture an important market like the United States,” Nusseler says.
The company is targetting service entry in 2032.
