Tecnam P-Volt
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Italy |
| Products | Aircraft |
Overview
The Tecnam P-Volt represents an Italian initiative to develop a light electric aircraft by the manufacturer Tecnam, in collaboration with Rolls-Royce.[1]
On 13 June 2023, Tecnam declared a halt to the P-Volt’s development, attributing this decision to constraints in existing battery technology.[2]
Design and development
Derived from the Tecnam P2012 Traveller, the P-Volt was designed as a short-range commuter aircraft accommodating nine passengers.[3][4] It shared the Traveller’s high-wing configuration and fixed tricycle landing gear. The electric propulsion system under development by Rolls-Royce aimed to provide an operational range of approximately 85 nautical miles per full charge.[5]
This range estimate incorporated a 30-minute energy reserve compliant with VFR. However, operating under IFR conditions with an alternate airport within reach was expected to be challenging.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
The suspension announcement on 13 June 2023 highlighted concerns regarding battery performance degradation. While new batteries could support the intended missions, their diminished capacity after several hundred cycles would necessitate frequent replacements, resulting in uneconomical operations for scheduled services.[2]
Operators
In March 2021, the Norwegian carrier Widerøe revealed plans to acquire an unspecified quantity of P-Volt planes, with deliveries anticipated in 2025 and operational deployment expected by 2026.
See also
References
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External links
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