Electric-hybrid planes could be in the air by 2022

Zunum Aero, the Boeing and JetBlue-backed hybrid-electric aviation startup, just set a delivery date for its first next-gen airplanes: 2022. 

The company released the design specs for its debut 12-seat production aircraft, its first major announcement since emerging from stealth mode back in April with big plans to revolutionize the aviation industry.  

The company introduced the hybrid-electric planes with a strategy to cut down today's frustratingly long flight times and expensive ticket costs by focusing on short routes between the US's underutilized system of small regional airports. Zunum claims that its smaller, more fuel efficient crafts could make regional travel much more feasible than today's gas-guzzlers tied to the major airport system.  

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Zunum's new craft design boasts a hybrid-electric system that aims for a range of up to 700 miles and a top cruise speed of 340 mph. The planes are projected to have 80 percent lower emissions and noise than traditional aircraft, which could be especially appealing for smaller, regional airports. 

Image: zunum aero

The craft's batteries will be integrated into its wings, and Zunum claims that its hybrid-electric series powertrain is "future-proofed," since it can use any type of battery technology. The company hopes that battery tech can catch up to its design, so the plane was engineered to someday transition to fly on only electric power. 

Zunum is banking on a regional embrace of the hybrid planes, and if its estimates are correct, that could be great news for harried air travelers sick of long, costly trips between major airports. The company claims its regional model could, for example, cut the estimated four hour, 50 minute flight from Boston to Washington, DC down to just a two and a half hour trip — for a 33 percent discount. 

Test flights are slated to begin in 2019, and Zunum plans to open up a second development center in the Chicago area to expand its operations.    

Zunum could be the first to put electric or hybrid jets in the air, but they won't fly alone forever if other aviation projects in the works are fully realized. Massachusetts-based Wright Electric has partnered with EasyJet to develop a fully-electric passenger plane with the goal to launch in the next ten years, while Airbus is also working in the space. Other companies like Boom and even NASA are working to introduce cheaper supersonic flight routes — so the way we fly could be much different in the future.   

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