Elysian Unveils Plans for 90-Passenger Electric Aircraft

The E9X, expected to be in service by 2033, could travel up to 500 miles on a single charge, significantly advancing the capabilities of electric aviation.

• Dutch startup Elysian has revealed plans for a 90-passenger electric aircraft capable of traveling up to 500 miles on a single charge, a significant improvement on current estimates for electric aircraft which suggest a limit of around 20 passengers and under 200 miles.
• The E9X aircraft design utilizes concepts such as span loading, low-wing configuration, and the advantages of electric propulsion. It features a large 137.7-foot wingspan with folding tips to fit airport gates, and a battery with an energy density of 360 Wh/kg.
• The aircraft will feature eight 12-foot propellers and a turbogenerator in the rear fuselage that provides 45 minutes of extra power, intended as an emergency reserve measure.
• Elysian has partnered with universities and national aerospace research institutes in the Netherlands and Germany to address technical challenges such as reducing the recharge time of the batteries, thermal management, propeller-wing integration, and the design and certification of the reserve energy system.
• Elysian's chief business officer, Daniel Rosen Jacobsen, estimates it will cost $8-10 billion to bring the E9X into production. The company has raised $10 million to date and aims to have the aircraft in service by 2033.

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