Kokam Batteries To Power First Flights Of All-Electric Aircraft By The End Of 2018
Eviation Aircraft and South Korean battery manufacturer Kokam have revealed details for a battery supply deal worth over $1 million. These batteries will be used to power Eviation's Alice aircraft, set to fly by the end of this year.
With the goal of making clean regional air travel accessible for all, Eviation is tackling one of the world's dirtiest industries - aviation. Its zero-emissions solution, the Alice, which debuted at the 52nd Paris Air Show in June 2017, leverages an IP portfolio that includes thermal management and autonomous landing, as well as distributed electric propulsion, industry-leading battery technology provided by Kokam, and cutting-edge composite body frames capable of carrying up to 9 passengers on a single charge for 650 miles.
Beginning with its patented manufacturing process, Kokam's battery solutions feature a compact battery cell design, an industry-leading energy density of 260 Watt hours per kilogram (Wh/kg) and a long cycle life, making them optimized to achieve light, energy efficient solutions meeting the safety demands of an aircraft. While the company's battery solutions have been used in aerial, ground, surface, and underwater drone applications for military, commercial, and industrial purposes, this deal with Eviation marks the first time they will be used in manned aerial flights of regional commuter aircrafts.
"Eviation is taking the electric transportation revolution to its next logical level: the air," said Ike Hong, vice president of Kokam's Power Solutions Division. "While the aviation sector is behind those on the ground in electrifying, today's battery capabilities are both more compact and with higher energy density than earlier technology, already able to power flights of 500 miles or less, a distance encompassing half of the world's 4.5 billion flights annually."
Eviation is primed to make regional air travel emissions-free with a fully-electric aircraft design, built from the ground up to cut costs and improve efficiency on the busiest city-to-city transit routes, such as San Diego to Silicon Valley and Seoul to Beijing. Through 2019, Eviation will certify and commercialize its all-electric Alice aircraft, while partnering with leading industry suppliers, including Kokam, to bring its prototypes to scale and to the market.
"Kokam is known around the world for its exceptional lithium ion battery technology, which already powers everything from energy storage systems to unmanned aerial, surface, and underwater vehicles," said Omer Bar-Yohay, CEO of Eviation. "We're confident this is the best battery to usher in the age of electric aerial mobility, helping to save customers time and money, while being the most sustainable solution in the air."
(Source: Eviation Aircraft news release. Alice aircraft pictured in file photo)
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