Maeve Aerospace Unveils Ambitious All-Electric Aircraft for Sustainable Regional Travel

In April 2023, Dutch electric startup Maeve Aerospace unveiled its all-electric Maeve 01 aircraft concept, designed to accommodate 44 passengers and expected to be operational by 2029. The innovative design features eight electric motors mounted on the wings and a range of 460 km. Maeve Aerospace aims to deliver a zero-emissions aircraft with a recharging time of just 35 minutes

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Developing an all-electric aircraft of this size has been challenging, with Sweden's Heart Aerospace recently modifying its design to include hybrid-electric propulsion. However, Maeve's CEO and Co-founder Jan Willem Heinen remains optimistic about the project's feasibility. Factors such as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency's recent relaxation of fuel reserve rules and collaboration with leading battery manufacturer Amprius, which is developing higher energy density batteries, contribute to this confidence.

Heinen emphasizes the importance of clean-sheet design and long-term thinking, as electric aircraft entering service around 2030 may still be in operation by 2055 or beyond, by which time battery performance will have significantly improved. Since its launch two years ago, Maeve has raised €3.4 million in funding, mainly from angel investors, and is now seeking an additional €40 million.

So far, four airlines have expressed interest in the Maeve 01, with two remaining confidential. Known interested parties include Dutch start-up airline Fly With Lucy, which has Air France-KLM low-cost subsidiary Transavia as an investor, and New Zealand regional carrier Napier Air. Both airlines see the potential for lower operational costs and the development of regional networks using the electric aircraft. New Zealand's South Island, with its numerous air routes of up to 400 km and abundant renewable energy sources, is considered an ideal use case for the Maeve 01.