The future is coming and with-it electric planes – providing a quieter, cheaper, and lower carbon emission-producing flying experience. Because why should you compromise on holidays in the name of, well, anything.
EasyJet with Wright Electric, Boeing with Zunum and Airbus with Siemens are all in the race to create electric planes. If we were the betting type, we’d be putting our money on easyJet as it seems their US-based manufacturer Wright Electric is leading the charge with a 2027 launch date and plans for a full fleet by 2030.
EasyJet’s chief executive Johan Lundgren is confident we will have a travel industry that isn’t solely dependent on jet fuel in the near future. And with a two-seater electric plane already flying high, and a nine-seater plane being tested as early as next year, it looks like he is right.
Wright Electric is in the process of building a battery-propelled aircraft for flights under two hours and a range of approximately 335 miles, making this AirbusA320neo suitable for 20% of easyJet’s flights. Their first route is likely to be their flyways routes which transit travellers on single-day return trips, likely the London to Amsterdam route since it’s Europe’s second busiest route and within the range limits.
This development will combat rising fuel prices and is predicted to reduce carbon emissions by 15%, plus it will be 10% cheaper for airlines to buy and operate (and hopefully cheaper for us too) and they’ll be 50% quieter than you’re currently used to.
The fact easyJet has filed a patent for a motor to be used in larger aircrafts and work has already begun on a new design (by David Cummings) specifically based on easyJet-sized planes, it’s all looking promising for one of Europe’s favourite budget airlines.