Electric power is coming to commercial aviation, sooner or later. If Ampaire has its way, the answer will be sooner.
Ampaire has replaced one of the engines of the Cessna 337 with an electric motor and will begin demonstrating the aircraft’s performance on Hawaiian regional air routes this year.
According to Ampaire CEO Kevin Noerteker, the development will help "jump-start" the market and pave the way to an "all-electric" future. Rather than build an electric airplane from scratch, the modification will accelerate the transition to electric-powered commercial aircraft.