Charged EVs | Wright Electric receives $3.34 million grant from FAA for ultra-lightweight aircraft batteries

Wright Electric, a US developer of ultra-lightweight motors, mills and batteries for the aerospace and navy sectors, together with its companions, which embrace NASA, DOE and DOD, has been awarded a $3.34-million grant from the FAA’s Fueling Aviation’s Sustainable Transition (FAST) program.

The funding can be used to develop a brand new class of batteries for giant electrical plane accommodating 100+ passengers—the section of the aerospace business that accounts for greater than 90% of its carbon emissions. The R&D program’s goal is to make such plane a risk by creating lithium-sulfur batteries that maintain roughly thrice extra vitality per pound than lithium-ion batteries.

“When Wright Electrical was based in 2016 the thought of a battery that will permit plane to fly regional routes with reserves appeared like a fantasy to most individuals. Now, we’re one in every of a number of firms with a viable path towards a expertise that can allow regional plane flights solely on battery energy,” mentioned Wright CEO Jeff Engler. 

Supply: North American Clean Energy