Montreal-based Air Canada has signed a purchase agreement for 30 electric-hybrid aircraft under development by Heart Aerospace of Sweden.
The aircraft is not expected to enter service until 2028. Under the agreement, Air Canada has also acquired a US$5m equity stake in Heart Aerospace.
Called the ES-30 aircraft, and having a 30-passenger capacity, it will allow Air Canada to serve regional and commuter routes more sustainably. The aircraft will be powered by lithium-ion batteries and will be equipped with reserve-hybrid generators that can use sustainable aviation fuel.
Fully loaded, the ES-30 is projected to have an all-electric, zero-emission range of 200km. This can be extended to 400km with power supplemented by the generators, and up to 800km if the load is restricted to 25 passengers.
