French company introduces hybrid-electric engine for homebuilt aircraft — General Aviation News

VoltAero has unveiled its HPU 210 aircraft powertrain, which brings the company's patented hybrid-electric propulsion technology to propeller-driven airplanes in the homebuilt, kit-built, and very light aircraft categories. The HPU 210 hybrid power unit (HPU) is equipped with Kawasaki's H2SX thermal engine, which provides maximum power of 150 kW, along with a 60-kW electric motor. In typical operation, the thermal engine delivers baseline propulsive power, while the electric motor kicks in during high-power demand situations, boosting power by 40%, resulting in shorter takeoff distances, enhanced obstacle clearance, and increased cruise speeds, according to company officials.

"With the HPU 210, a new category of airplanes will benefit from the patented, proven hybrid propulsion technology pioneered by VoltAero for our Cassio family of regional aircraft[1], which are now advancing into their pre-production phase," said Jean Botti, VoltAero's CEO & Chief Technology Officer. "We've validated our hybrid propulsion architecture on our in-house Cassio S flying testbed, which has logged more than 185 flight hours and flown approximately 25,000 kilometers in a full range of operating conditions."

The supercharged H2SX is derived from its utilization on Kawasaki's Ninja H2 SX sport motorcycle, tailoring this high performance, four-cylinder in-line engine for airplane applications, company officials noted. It uses electronic fuel injection, and has an estimated TBO (time between overhaul) of 1,500 hours. In VoltAero's HPU 210 configuration, the hybrid-electric propulsion unit is controlled by a single throttle with the thermal engine generating the power from zero to 70%, and the additional boost power delivered by the electric motor and its battery.

The HPU 210 runs on avgas, biofuel (such as the E85 ethanol-gasoline blend), and standard unleaded automotive fuel. The HPU 210 will be supplied by VoltAero as a turnkey solution, with the kit including a complete powertrain unit composed of the thermal engine, electric motor, gearbox and electronic control unit. VoltAero will initiate HPU 210 production at the company's purpose-built Rochefort Airport industrial facility in France's Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region, where its Cassio family of regional aircraft also will be assembled.

Deliveries of HPU 210s are targeted to begin late 2026.

For more information: VoltAero.aero[2]

References

1. ^ Cassio family of regional aircraft (www.generalaviationnews.com)
2. ^ VoltAero.aero (www.voltaero.aero)