VoltAero claims world’s first electric-hybrid aircraft flight with 100% sustainable fuel
VoltAero has flown the proprietary electric-hybrid powertrain for its Cassio S testbed aeroplane with 100% sustainable fuel provided by TotalEnergies.
Conducted from VoltAero’s development facility at Royan, France, the ‘milestone flight’ utilised the hybrid powertrain’s electric mode and its internal combustion engine fuelled by TotalEnergies’ Excellium Racing 100, made from bioethanol produced from waste that originates in French vineyards.
“Based on initial results, we calculated a CO2 reduction of approximately 80 percent while operating the Cassio powertrain in its electric-hybrid mode,” said Jean Botti, VoltAero’s CEO and Chief Technology Officer. “It underscores the opportunity for production Cassio aircraft to replace standard Avgas 100 high-octane fuel for aviation piston engines.”
Excellium Racing 100 fuel has been used since 2022 in certain automobile competitions, including the 24-Hour Le Mans endurance race, and is made from winemaking waste to allow a reduction in CO2 emissions of at least 65% over its entire life cycle when compared to the fossil fuel equivalent.
TotalEnergies Aviation president Joël Navaron explained: “This flight demonstrates our desire to continue our research and development efforts to offer an alternative to aviation gasoline containing lead to meet the challenges of aviation decarbonisation.”
Cassio aircraft will utilise an electric motor in the aft fuselage-mounted hybrid propulsion unit for all-electric power during taxi, takeoff, primary flight if the distance travelled is less than 150 km, and landing. The internal combustion engine extends range, and serves as a backup in the event of a problem with the electric propulsion for fail-safe functionality.
VoltAero’s first production aircraft will be the Cassio 330, with a four/five-seat interior configuration and operating on a combined electric-hybrid propulsion power of 330 kilowatts.
It is to be followed by the six-seat Cassio 480 with a combined electric-hybrid propulsion power of 480 kilowatts, and the Cassio 600 – sized at a 10/12-seat capacity with electric-hybrid propulsion power of 600 kilowatts.
Excellium Racing 100 is certified as a 100% sustainable product according to the mass balance system applied by a voluntary certification organisation approved by the European Union.
In June, VoltAero selected Avidyne to develop avionics for the Cassio 330, which includes customised software specifically tailored for electric-hybrid operations.