Wright Selected for $3.34M Award From FAA FAST for Ultra-Lightweight Batteries
2024年8月20日 - 1:51AM
ビジネスワイヤ(英語)
Wright Electric and its partners have been selected to receive a
$3.34M award from the FAA FAST program to develop a new class of
batteries that will enable zero emission aircraft flights on large
100+ passenger aircraft.
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the full release here:
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Rechargeable Thermal Battery - The above
image shows an early prototype of the outer housing for Wright’s
novel molten Lithium-Sulfur aviation battery (Photo: Business
Wire)
It is widely agreed that lightweighting batteries is the most
difficult technical challenge preventing the adoption of electric
aircraft. The objective of the R&D program is to construct
highly energy dense batteries which hold roughly three times more
energy per pound of weight than the best electric car batteries.
These batteries would enable the wide scale adoption of electric
aircraft in the 100+ passenger segment.
“When Wright Electric was founded in 2016, the idea of a battery
that would allow aircraft to fly regional routes with reserves
seemed like a fantasy to most people,” says Jeff Engler, CEO at
Wright Electric. “Now, we are one of several companies with a
viable path toward a technology that will enable regional aircraft
flights entirely on battery power.”
Wright was founded to address the climate and noise impact of
the aerospace industry by building electric aircraft. Wright is
focusing on the 100+ passenger aircraft market because this segment
accounts for greater than 90% of the carbon emissions of the
aerospace industry. Wright builds ultra-power-dense electric
aircraft engines and ultra-lightweight batteries for these
aircraft. Wright works with NASA, the U.S. Department of Energy,
and the U.S. Department of Defense.
The batteries Wright is developing use a novel molten
Lithium-Sulfur chemistry with the potential for roughly 3x the
gravimetric energy capacity of commercial li-ion. In this program
Wright will emphasize reducing risks tied to airworthiness and high
volume production.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to mature this
technology and accelerate the decarbonization of air transportation
in New York State,” says Engler. “This award will greatly
accelerate our work to advance clean air travel and we couldn’t be
more excited to get started.”
The funding for the FAA FAST program was provided by the
Inflation Reduction Act.
“As one of the leading advocates in Congress for innovation and
the advancement of clean energy technologies, I’m thrilled to see
Malta’s own Wright Electric receive this significant infusion of
federal funding,” says Congressman Paul D. Tonko. “This grant, one
of just 36 awarded nationwide through the FAA FAST program, will
deliver $3.34 million to advance Wright’s groundbreaking work on
ultra-lightweight batteries for use on commercial passenger
flights. When I visited their facility in 2022, I was deeply
impressed by their commitment to pioneering zero-emission regional
flights, and I’ve been proud in recent years to support their
efforts to secure new federal investments. This award represents a
critical step forward for Wright Electric and for our Capital
Region, as we continue to lead the nation in the fight against
climate change. Going forward, I’m eager to keep working alongside
local companies to find innovative solutions to combat our climate
crisis.”
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240819989681/en/
Aaron Rowe, PhD Head of Battery Program (213) 761-4365
press@weflywright.com