An Australian start-up trying to flee fuel will showcase its latest electrical innovations at the Australian International Airshow.
And one of the executives behind the company said battery-powered aircraft had the potential to “revolutionize” regional flights and disrupt the way all Australians travel.
Dovetail Electric Aviation will display a small Cessna Caravan aircraft fitted with battery packs alongside a working electric aircraft engine at next week’s Victorian event.
The company’s CEO, Rachael Barritt, said the demonstration was designed to get the industry excited about electric aircraft and the changes it could bring to flying around the world.
Aviation is ripe for disruption,” she said. “When was the last time we had a major innovation in aviation?”
Dovetail Electric Aviation will showcase an aircraft equipped with battery packs at the Australian International Air Show
Ms Barritt said the company, which this month received a $3 million grant for collaborative research center projects, was retrofitting small petrol planes with electric motors and lithium-ion batteries.
Dovetail plans to begin its first “experimental” electric plane flight in 2024, she said, in a move that could significantly reduce fuel and maintenance costs for suppliers.
“If you convert an aircraft to an electric car, you save 40 per cent in operating costs,” Ms Barritt said.
“We will change today’s regional aviation. You will see more smaller flights arriving that we don’t have at the moment.”
Small electric planes can make hour-long flights once they are approved by the Civil Aviation and Safety Administration, Ms. Barritt said.
Regional Express is working with the company to convert some of the 61 Saab 340 aircraft to electric aircraft.
Adriano Di Pietro, director of Swinburne University’s AIR Hub, said Rex Airlines – and other Australian airlines – could pioneer the technology before it is rolled out to other parts of the world.
“We have a strong use case for regional airlines in Australia, where clean and electric aviation will play a key role,” he said.
Dovetail Electric Aviation Operations Manager Rachael Barritt (above) said: “Aviation is ripe for disruption”
“Connecting the regions would be a great opportunity, so there could be a unique market in Australia to start with electric aviation and then go global.”
Dr Di Pietro said staff at the university’s AIR Hub would work with Dovetail and Ms Barritt as Founders in Residence in 2023 to accelerate the development of the technology and help the Australian company drive innovation overseas, to top to stay
“A big part of the challenge is how startups connect with the experts, facilities and core technologies they need to make their businesses happen,” he said.
“The idea was to come early and work with them rather than waiting for grants.”
The Australian International Air Show – also known as the Avalon Air Show – takes place in Geelong from 28 February.
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James is an author and travel journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a love for exploring new cultures and discovering unique destinations, James brings his readers on a journey with him through his articles.
