Will Cooperate On Hybrid-Electric VTOL Trifan 200 Cargo/Logistics Aircraft
VerdeGo Aero and XTI Aircraft Company have partnered together on the TriFan 200 program.
XTI Aircraft is developing the TriFan 200, a configuration similar to its larger TriFan 600 VTOL passenger aircraft already under development. VerdeGo Aero is applying its diesel (Jet-A) hybrid powertrain to enable the TriFan 200 to offer operators favorable operating economics.
When the program reaches commercial development and certification, XTI’s TriFan 200 Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) aircraft will be an unmanned autonomous aircraft capable of transporting 500 lbs of cargo on missions of more than 200 nautical miles. The TriFan 200 will enable express logistics companies to address “miles 1 to 20” when shipping cargo by rapidly connecting global air cargo hubs with distribution points throughout major cities.
Surface transportation in highly congested global cities currently takes up to 90 to 120 minutes for urgent cargo to travel between air cargo hubs at major airports and the city centers. The XTI TriFan 200 will allegedly enable significant time to be removed from both ends of the journey, allowing later pickup times and earlier deliveries. In addition to express shipping, the TriFan 200 may also be applicable to longer-range transportation in remote locations without infrastructure, including military logistics missions.
“The TriFan 200 aircraft will open up a significant new market for XTI to address the needs of cargo and logistics operators globally. We are excited to be partnered with VerdeGo to leverage their experience with hybrid powertrains combined with our experience from the TriFan 600 program to create an efficient, economical, profitable VTOL aircraft for fleet operators worldwide,” said Robert LaBelle, CEO, XTI Aircraft.
VerdeGo Aero’s diesel (Jet-A) hybrid systems offer the low operating costs and mission flexibility for next-generation electric aircraft. Combining VerdeGo’s efficient 180KW generator with VerdeGo’s battery pack, enables aircraft like the TriFan 200 to operate profitably for fleet operators. The high efficiency of VerdeGo’s diesel hybrid generators may be instrumental in reducing emissions and fuel burn by as much as 35% when compared to conventional turbine powertrains, while also reducing overall direct operating cost by 40%. Utilizing globally available Jet-A fuel means no new infrastructure is necessary, and aircraft utilizing VerdeGo’s hybrid systems could be ready for the biofuel Jet-A substitutes now under development.
“XTI’s TriFan 200 is an outstanding application for VerdeGo’s hybrid powertrain systems and we are excited to support XTI as an early customer. XTI’s goals to provide its customers with reliable, high-performance cargo aircraft are ideally matched with the efficiency and low operating cost of VerdeGo’s diesel hybrid powertrains,” said Eric Bartsch, CEO and Co-founder of VerdeGo Aero.
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